eFlash #663

eFlash #663 New

Date: 09-Jul-2026

In this edition: Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste Workshop | Annual Forum 2026 - Registrations Now Open! | Queensland Productivity Commission Consultation | Drinking Water Regulation Workshops | LKWD Academy Goes Live | Great Barrier Reef Urban Technology and Innovation Fund | ANZG for Fresh and Marine Water Quality June 2026 | National Water Reform 2026 Interim Update Released

Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste: Out of Sight, Top of Mind

Trade waste isn't just about permits and pricing – it's about protecting public infrastructure, the environment, and building sustainable services.

We're excited to welcome Sarah Hausler (McCullough Robertson Lawyers) and Sabrina McCormack (Douglas Shire Council) to the qldwater Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste: Out of Sight, Top of Mind workshop on 23 July.

Sarah Hausler will unpack one of the biggest frustrations facing council-owned water utilities: what happens when the legislative framework doesn't provide the practical tools needed to manage trade waste compliance? Drawing on legal and operational experience, Sarah will explore where the challenges lie and what utilities need to be aware of.

Sabrina McCormack will share Douglas Shire Council's transformation of its trade waste function from an administrative cost centre into a self-supporting, self-funded service. It's a practical case study of how strategic investment, improved processes and organisational commitment can strengthen compliance while delivering long-term value.

Download the program here.

The workshop also provides a fantastic opportunity to visit an operational landfill leachate treatment facility, incorporating PFAS treatment with the optional technical tour on 22 July.

Whether you’re an operator, trade waste officer, environmental professional, engineer or manager, you’ll gain practical insights, valuable connections, and ideas you can take back and implement in your organisation.

Annual Forum 2026 – Registrations Now Open!

Registrations are now open for the qldwater 2026 Annual Forum: The Urgent Drop: The Case for Change which will take place on Wednesday 19 & Thursday 20 August 2026 at the IPWEA-QNT Training Rooms in Eagle Farm, Brisbane.

The qldwater 2026 Annual Forum will confront the current issues. Chronic underinvestment, ageing assets, a constrained workforce, and tightening regulation have created an estimated $45.3 billion need statewide to replace and renew networks approaching the end of their operational lifespans, and progress has stalled despite recent reviews into water service delivery across Australia and New Zealand.

The 2026 Annual Forum is a call to action. Bringing together utility executives, engineers, policymakers, asset managers, and key stakeholders, the Forum will confront these challenges head on through case studies, forward-looking presentations, and strategic networking, with a focus on actionable solutions and the reform measures essential for sustainable water businesses into the future. With local, state and federal elections on the horizon in 2028, the outcomes and consensus from this Forum will directly inform the sector’s reform agenda and advocacy priorities.

Some sponsorship opportunities remain. Download the sponsorship prospectus.

Queensland Productivity Commission Consultation

The Queensland Productivity Commission (QPC) is currently undertaking an inquiry into the impacts of the Australian Government’s 2025 Environment Protection Reforms.

Following qldwater's request for the water sector to be directly engaged in the inquiry process, the QPC has agreed to host a dedicated online consultation with qldwater members. This provides a valuable opportunity for Queensland water service providers to share their experiences and help inform the inquiry.

Date: Thursday 16 July 2026

Time: 1:00pm–3:00pm

Please register here by Monday 13 July to receive an invitation to the meeting.

This consultation is an opportunity to highlight the practical impacts that environmental regulation and approval processes have on the planning, delivery and operation of essential water and sewerage infrastructure, including flow-on effects for housing, economic growth and community development.

We encourage you to share this eFlash with relevant staff within your council or water utility to help ensure the sector's experiences and perspectives are well represented. Participation is particularly important for regional and remote service providers that may not have the resources to prepare a formal submission.

Please note that formal submissions to the inquiry close on Monday 13 July 2026.

OTHER NEWS

Drinking Water Regulation Workshops

The Water Supply Regulation (WSR) team is hosting two Drinking Water Regulation Workshops in August and September, providing an opportunity for water service providers to hear directly from regulators and industry experts on current issues affecting the sector.

Brisbane Workshop - Tuesday 25 August 2026

Location: 11 George Street Auditorium (in-person) and online via MS Teams

Presentations from WSR, Queensland Health and water service providers will over a range of topics including operational challenges and emerging issues, commissioning new infrastructure, water quality results and incident reporting.

Registration Form: Water Supply Regulation Drinking Water Workshop - Brisbane 2026

Charleville - Wednesday 2 September 2026

Location: Charleville Racecourse, 61 Partridge St, Charleville.

Presentations from WSR, Queensland Health and water service providers will focus on operational challenges and current issues, Annual reporting requirements, water quality results and incident reporting.

Registration Form: Water Supply Regulation Drinking Water Workshop - Charleville 2026

For catering purposes indicate your attendance type and dietary requirements when registering. If you have questions or are no longer able to attend, please contact drinkingwater.reporting@dlgwv.qld.gov.au.

LKWD Academy Goes Live

The Risk Edge Group has launched the LKWD Academy, an online training platform covering topics related to risk management.

Preliminary courses include:

Water Portfolio Risk Management
Compliance & Governance for Directors and Decision-makers
Critical Control Points and their Importance for Water Product Safety
Emergency Management

More info here.

Great Barrier Reef Urban Technology and Innovation Fund

The Queensland Government has opened applications for a new Wastewater Grant Program as part of the joint Australian and Queensland governments' $24M Great Barrier Reef Urban Technology and Innovation Fund.

The program aims to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative wastewater treatment technologies that reduce nutrient loads entering the Great Barrier Reef through three programs: wastewater, stormwater and sediment and erosion.

Eligible applicants include universities, research and technology organisations, wastewater treatment technology companies, and water utilities that invest in wastewater research and development. Local governments within the Reef catchment can participate by partnering with an eligible organisation to deliver on-ground trials.

For Queensland's urban water sector, this is an opportunity to partner with researchers and technology providers to trial new approaches, build evidence for future investment, and contribute to improved Reef water quality outcomes.

The Wastewater Grant Program (up to $10M available) is designed to accelerate the development, testing and commercialisation of innovative wastewater treatment technologies capable of achieving leading-practice nutrient removal.

Tier 1: Up to $4M for large-scale trials of innovative wastewater treatment systems.
Tier 2: Up to $200K to commercialise promising wastewater technologies.

The grant guidelines, application forms, frequently asked questions and a communications kit are available through the Fund website

The closing date for applications is 10am on Monday 17 August 2026.

CURRENT CONSULTATIONS

ANZG for Fresh and Marine Water Quality June 2026 update

New or updated water quality guidelines are being developed under the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality 2018 (ANZG 2018). As a reminder, anyone can subscribe for ANZG updates direct from the ANZG team.

Finalised aquatic ecosystem guidelines

Following public release of draft materials inviting stakeholder submissions, ANZG aquatic ecosystem guideline values for the following have now been finalised and can be accessed from the ANZG website (including through the ANZG toxicant search tool).

Draft aquatic ecosystem guidelines open for public comment (reminder)

The following draft aquatic ecosystem guidelines have been released on the ANZG website for public review/submissions. Refer to the ANZG website links below for more details:

Ametryn in marine water (feedback due 22 August)
Gallium in marine water (feedback due 22 August)
Imazapic in marine and fresh water (feedback due 22 August)
Molybdenum in marine water (feedback due 22 August)

For further details, email dane.moulton@detsi.qld.gov.au

National Water Reform 2026 - Interim update released

The Productivity Commission released its first interim update on National Water Reform 2026:Water services reform directions on 19 June 2026. qldwater are grateful to the Commission for their time to speak with us and our members in the development of this interim update. A reminder that qldwater’s original submission (and the 2024 submission) is on our website.

The Commission invites written submissions in response to this update. Submissions are due 10 July 2026.

The Commission will release its second interim update, which will include the Commission’s preliminary assessment of progress against the 2004 National Water Initiative, in early July.

Visit the PC website to view the interim update and participate by making a submission to waterreform2026@pc.gov.au

Please contact Georgina (gdavis@qldwater.com.au) to provide input and comments into the next submission.