eFlash #657 New
Date: 20-May-2026
In this edition: We are hiring for an ISJA Project Manager | Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste Workshop | Nominations closing soon: qldwater Operator Awards | WIOA QLD Conference – Register Now! | PhD Opportunities | Environmental DNA Webinar | Public Consultation on Draft Guidance for the ADWG | QPC Review into Environmental Regulation | Environment Protection Reform Consultation | Strengthening Protections Against Violent Workplace Incidents Amendment Bill| Have your say on Environmental Offsets Framework review
We are hiring: ISJA Project Manager
qldwater is seeking an Industry Skills and Jobs Advisor (ISJA) Project Manager to lead workforce development initiatives for Queensland’s urban water sector.
This role will drive stakeholder engagement, deliver strategic projects, and provide high-level advice to government on skills needs, training priorities and workforce trends. It’s a unique opportunity to shape the future workforce of our sector and support delivery of the Queensland Skills Strategy 2024–2028.
Find out more and apply here
Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste Workshop
Register now for the qldwater Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste workshop to be held on 22-23 July 2026 at the qldwater office in Eagle Farm, Brisbane.
This two-day event will showcase the latest insights and outcomes from qldwater’s Trade Waste Uplift Project, supporting stronger, more consistent trade waste management across regional Queensland through practical tools and shared learnings.
The program will explore:
- Why trade waste matters for known and emerging contaminants
- Sector perspectives on trade waste challenges and opportunities
- Best practice case studies from across Queensland
Kicking off with a site tour on Wednesday, the event continues with a full-day, interactive workshop on Thursday.
If you’re working in trade waste, wastewater quality or emerging contaminants — or want to better understand how they intersect, this is a valuable opportunity to connect and learn.
Some sponsorship opportunities are still available, offering a chance to showcase solutions that help utilities meet regulatory expectations and manage contaminants more effectively. Download the sponsorship prospectus for details and contact Louise to lock it in.
Nominations closing soon: qldwater Operator Awards
Managers and supervisors are encouraged to nominate outstanding team members for the qldwater-sponsored operator awards at the 2026 WIOA Queensland Conference.
Queensland New Operator of the Year Award
Recognising those with less than five years in the industry, this award highlights individuals showing strong commitment, enthusiasm and future potential. Last year’s winner, Matt Gosper, demonstrated how early recognition can boost confidence and accelerate career growth in the sector.
Read more about his experience here.
Queensland Operator of the Year Award
Celebrating experienced operators who consistently demonstrate excellence, initiative and reliability in their work. As highlighted by 2025 winner Wayne Siganto, recognition shines a light on the critical role operators play in delivering safe, reliable water services every day.
Read more about Wayne’s experience here.
Recognition starts with a nomination, so please take the time to acknowledge the people making a real difference in your organisation and across the sector.
Nominations close 3 June.
OTHER NEWS
WIOA QLD Conference – Register Now!
Register now for the WIOA 2026 Queensland Water Industry Operations Conference & Exhibition, taking place 24- 25 June on the Gold Coast. This is an opportunity to connect with a community of water industry operations professionals from across Queensland for two days of shared learning, practical insights and connections.
The program brings together real experiences, technical presentations and innovative solutions with an exhibition featuring 120+ exhibitors. With live industry competitions, networking events, and opportunities to strengthen professional connections, this event is all about supporting and celebrating the people on the ground who keep our water systems running.
Secure your place today. (WIOA Members receive a 20% discount on delegate registration.)
PhD Opportunities
The ARC Training Centre for Climate-Resilient Water has PhD opportunities available across a range of research themes. The PhD opportunities are embedded in industry with a 12-month industry placement.
Expressions of interest are invited for domestic candidates before 6 July 2026. Opportunities for international candidates will open later in the year – check back soon.
Environmental DNA Webinar
The Australian Water School is hosting a webinar at 1pm on Wednesday, 20 May 2026 where Josh Griffiths will provide a practical introduction to Environmental DNA (eDNA) in action across water and terrestrial environments.
eDNA is transforming how biodiversity is monitored, providing a powerful, non invasive way to detect species and better understand ecosystems. While traditionally associated with aquatic environments, eDNA is now being applied far beyond water.
CURRENT CONSULTATIONS
Public Consultation on Draft Guidance for the ADWG on chlorate, nickel and ammonia
The National Health and Medical Research Council has opened a consultation on draft guidance for the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines on ammonia, nickel and chlorate and other minor changes. The consultation details can be found here.
The draft guidance material proposes retaining the current aesthetic guideline value for ammonia, raising the health-based guideline value for nickel and establishing a new health-based guideline value for chlorate in drinking water.
A key outcome of this proposed change is the introduction of a health-based guideline value for chlorate in drinking water of 0.8 mg/L that will apply to the ADWG.
This value is in line with existing interim guidance from Queensland Health provided through the Chlorate Position Statement from April 2022 which was published on the qldwater website.
That guidance, which was based on value is based on the World Health Organization’s 2016 drinking water guideline value for chlorate, required notification to the water supply regulator of detection at a concentration of greater than 0.8 mg/L.
The new guidance includes:
- Ammonia Aesthetic guideline value of 0.5 mg/L
- Nickel Health based-guideline value of 0.05 mg/L
- Chlorate Health based-guideline value of 0.8 mg/L
qldwater will be making a submission on this draft guideline. If you would like to share your experience of meeting compliance for any of the proposed guideline values, please reach out to Louise Reeves at lreeves@qldwater.com.au.
The consultation closes on 5 June 2026.
Queensland Productivity Review into Environmental Regulation
qldwater has welcomed the Queensland Government’s decision to direct the Queensland Productivity Commission (QPC) to conduct an inquiry into the impacts of recent changes to federal environmental regulation.
The inquiry into reforms to Commonwealth environmental laws – including the 2025 changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act – was an important opportunity to address long standing issues around assessment timeframes, duplication and regulatory burden for urban water (infrastructure) projects in Queensland.
The QPC will release further information on the inquiry shortly and the inquiry will run for 12 months.
Environment Protection Reform Consultation
The Australian Government’s Environment Protection Reform Bills were passed by the Australian Parliament on Friday 28 November 2025. The reforms implement the key recommendations of the 2020 Samuel Review. Some parts of the new laws have already commenced while others continue to be rolled out in stages.
Once fully implemented, these reforms will deliver:
- stronger environmental protection and restoration
- more efficient and robust project assessments
- greater accountability and transparency in decision making.
The next stage of the reforms will set up the future environmental regulation system for success. Two key reforms that will commence under the law on 1 July 2026 are:
- the establishment of the National Environmental Protection Agency (National EPA)
- the statutory head of Environment Information Australia (EIA).
DCCEEW are consulting on the policy settings for new or updated rules and regulations that:
- support a smooth transition to the new National EPA
- provide more certainty for projects and environment protection
- reduce duplication across different regulatory systems
They are proposing that these supporting laws come into effect on 1 July 2026.
To support this consultation they have released draft regulations. Feedback is due Friday 5 June 2026.
Strengthening Protections Against Violent Workplace Incidents Amendment Bill
On 13 May 2026 the Hon Shannon Fentiman MP, Member for Waterford, introduced the Strengthening Protections Against Violent Workplace Incidents Amendment Bill 2026 into the Queensland Parliament. The Bill was referred to the State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee for detailed consideration.
The purpose of the Bill is to strengthen protections against violent workplace incidents, by creating a new notifiable incident class of violent incident.
Under the current law, a person who conducts a business or undertaking must ensure that the regulator is notified immediately after becoming aware that a notifiable incident arising out of the conduct of the business or undertaking has occurred. Currently, notification incidents include the death of a person, serious injury or illness of a person or a dangerous incident.
The Bill amends the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the associated provisions in the Safety in Recreational Water Activities Act 2011 to widen the scope of a notifiable incident to include a new violent incident definition, which is described as one or more of the following that exposes a person to serious risk of psychological harm, including:
- a sexual assault or suspected sexual assault
- a physical assault, including with bodily fluids
- deliberate deprivation of a person’s liberty without lawful authority
- a threat of sexual or physical assault, or a threat to deprive a person of the person’s liberty, if there is reasonable belief that at the time the threat is made the person making the threat intends to carry out the threat and has the means to carry out the threat.
The closing date for written submissions is Thursday, 25 June 2026 at 5pm.
Have your say on Environmental Offsets Framework review
The Queensland Government is seeking feedback on a proposed refresh of the Environmental Offsets Framework, which helps balance development with environmental protection. The review will focus on improving how offsets are delivered, calculated and regulated.
A new discussion paper outlines key challenges, including delays and complexity, and invites stakeholder input on three focus areas: unlocking the Offset Account, financial calculations, and regulatory improvements.
Online information sessions will be held on 29 May (9.30–10.30am) and 18 June (12.30–2.00pm) - register to attend or receive updates.
Feedback is open until 29 June 2026 via the consultation website or email offsetsreview@detsi.qld.gov.au.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- 7 May - Nature-Based Solutions Bus Tour
- 26-28 May - AWA Ozwater'26
- 24-25 June - WIOA QLD Conference & Exhibition
- 22-23 July - Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste Workshop
- 19-20 August - qldwater Annual Forum