eFlash #664

eFlash #664 New

Date: 17-Jul-2026

In this edition: Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste Workshop | Annual Forum 2026 - Registrations Now Open! | Have your say: Statutory protections for QLD WWTPs | Say What Your Are Campaign | Water Skills Partnership Backs DAMA Investigation | Nominate Today: Innovation and Sustainability in Water Award | IChEMS Register updated with new chemical standards | Drinking Water Regulation Workshops | Great Barrier Reef Urban Technology and Innovation Fund | Have your say on future planning | ANZG for Fresh and Marine Water Quality June 2026

Last Chance to Register: Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste Workshop

What happens when an emerging technology doesn't fit neatly into existing trade waste frameworks?

As water cremation (also known as aquamation or alkaline hydrolysis) becomes more widely adopted, water utilities are increasingly being asked to consider the implications for sewerage systems, trade waste approvals and environmental compliance. It's an issue many councils haven't encountered yet… but they almost certainly will.

Our afternoon session at qldwater's Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste: Out of Sight, Top of Mind workshop on 23 July explores this emerging challenge from multiple perspectives.

Scott Neilsen (Townsville City Council) will be joined by Paul Sandbeck (Whitsunday Regional Council) and trade waste guru Col Hester (qldwater) for an interactive panel discussion exploring the technical, regulatory and trade waste considerations facing local governments and water service providers.

This isn't about predicting the future — it's about being prepared for it. If your organisation is responsible for trade waste approvals, wastewater treatment or environmental regulation, this session will provide practical insights to help you navigate a rapidly emerging issue.

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.

Queensland's urban water sector is facing a crisis that can no longer be deferred. Chronic underinvestment, ageing assets, a constrained workforce, and tightening regulation have created an infrastructure cliff that demands urgent, collective action. An estimated $45.3 billion is required statewide to replace and renew networks approaching the end of their operational lifespans, and progress has stalled.

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.

Join us for strategic discussions, insights on best practices, and innovative solutions to industry challenges.

Earlybird registration discounts end Friday 31 July 2026.

Have your say: Statutory protections for Queensland wastewater treatment plants

One of qldwater's key advocacy priorities is now becoming a reality.

In our 2024 State Election Manifesto, our number one policy priority called for statutory protections for wastewater treatment plants against claims relating to emerging contaminants such as PFAS and microplastics. We argued that it is fundamentally unfair for wastewater treatment plants to bear the legal, financial and operational burden for contaminants that enter their systems from sources outside their control.

We are pleased to see the Queensland Government has now commenced a review of the statutory protections available to wastewater treatment plants under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, with public consultation now open until 28 August 2026.

This is an important opportunity for the urban water sector to provide evidence of the real-world impacts that known and emerging contaminants are having on water businesses. We encourage all members to think beyond PFAS and consider the broader challenges posed by contaminants entering wastewater systems, including the impacts on:

long-term planning and infrastructure investment
operational and compliance costs
environmental and regulatory risk
biosolids management and beneficial reuse
insurance, liability and future financial exposure.

To help coordinate a strong, evidence-based response, qldwater will be leading consultation with members and will be hosting a dedicated session with DETSI from 2.30 – 3.30pm on 29 July.

This will be an opportunity to discuss the issues directly with the department and ensure the practical experiences of Queensland water service providers help shape the review.

The stronger our evidence, the stronger our advocacy. If your organisation has examples of how emerging contaminants are affecting your operations, planning, costs or risk management, we encourage you to participate in the consultation and share those experiences with qldwater.

Find more information about the consultation here.

Say What You Are Campaign

The Census is almost here, and this campaign only works if you help get the message to your crews. Share the information in a five-minute toolbox talk, share a video, stick up a poster or just have a quick chat before the Census.

The message is simple: When your team completes the Census, make sure they describe what they actually do—not just who they work for.

Every correctly identified Water Treatment Operator, Water Network Operator, Trade Waste Officer, Water Sampler and Supervisor helps build a clearer picture of our workforce. Better data means a stronger case for funding, training and future workforce planning.

The Census is on 11 August.

Let's give the campaign one last push and make sure the water industry is counted properly.

Say What You Are.

Water Skills Partnership Backs DAMA Investigation

Members of the Water Skills Partnership have voted to support qldwater in investigating the feasibility of a Queensland-wide Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) to help address ongoing workforce shortages across the urban water sector.

The proposal was discussed at yesterday's meeting, where members considered current workforce challenges facing utilities and councils across Queensland, particularly in regional and remote communities where attracting and retaining skilled workers remains a significant issue.

A DAMA is a formal agreement between the Australian Government and a designated regional representative that provides greater flexibility to address local workforce shortages. It can expand access to skilled occupations and allow negotiated concessions to standard visa requirements, such as age and English language criteria, helping employers fill positions that cannot be recruited locally.

Members recognised that a Queensland Water Industry DAMA could provide an additional workforce attraction pathway for councils and water service providers struggling to fill critical technical and operational roles. Potential benefits include improved access to overseas talent, greater workforce stability, and support for service delivery in communities experiencing persistent skills shortages.

Following the discussion, members voted to support qldwater undertaking further investigation into the feasibility of a state-wide DAMA for the water sector. This work will examine industry demand, potential occupation requirements, alignment with existing migration programs, and the practical considerations involved in establishing a sector-wide agreement.

The investigation will also consider how a DAMA could complement existing skilled migration pathways, including the Queensland Skilled Occupation List and State Nominated Migration Program, to help build a sustainable workforce for Queensland's urban water sector.

qldwater will engage with members and key stakeholders as the feasibility assessment progresses and will provide further updates as this work develops.

OTHER NEWS

Nominations close today: Innovation and Sustainability in Water

Do you have a project that is delivering innovative and sustainable outcomes for the water sector? The IPWEA-QNT Excellence Awards are calling for nominations in the Innovation and Sustainability in Water category.

This is your chance to showcase projects that are making a real difference through innovation, environmental stewardship, stakeholder engagement, and strong project delivery. Entries will be assessed across a range of criteria including planning, innovation, community and economic benefits, sustainability outcomes, environmental management, regulatory considerations, and overall project management excellence.

Eligible projects must have been completed in Queensland or the Northern Territory between 29 December 2024 and 29 June 2026. Nominations are open to everyone involved in a project, including local and state government agencies, utilities, consultants, and contractors.

If your team has delivered a project worth celebrating, now is the time to put it forward and gain industry recognition.

We understand that this is a tight turnaround. Any concerns relating to the Excellence Awards deadline can be made to IPWEA-QNT Membership & Communications Officer, James Breene at awards@ipweaq.com.

The Winner will be announced at IPWEA-QNT’s Excellence Awards Gala Dinner on Thursday 1 October at the Sunshine Coast Convention Centre, Novotel Twin Waters.

Find out more and submit your nomination today.

IChEMS Register Updated with New Chemical Standards

The Australian Government has updated the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Register (IChEMS), introducing new standards for several industrial chemicals, including additional PFAS compounds. The scheduling decisions are essentially the same as the draft decisions that were put out for consultation back in March.

Schedule 7 (Limits on import, export, manufacture and use):
PFHpS and related compounds PFNS, PFDS and related compounds
Schedule 6 (Limits on import, export, manufacture and use, but with limited essential uses):
Updated standard for UV-328
Schedule 5 (End-use specific controls):
PFBS and related compounds
PFHpA and related compounds
PFPeS and related compounds
6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamides (6:2 FTSAs)
Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA)
Schedule 4 (End-use specific controls):
PFBA, PFPeA, PFHxA and related compounds
Limonene
Schedules 2 and 3 (Minimum standards apply):
Glycerides and fatty acids have been listed as lower-concern chemicals.

For our sector, the addition of further PFAS compounds broadens the range of chemicals that may become subject to environmental management requirements, but falls short of the broad limits on import, export, manufacture and use for all PFAS compounds that we are advocating. Note that by default the management of these chemicals now specifically falls under the General Environmental Duty.

Members seeking further information can access the updated IChEMS Register and associated standards through the Australian Government's IChEMS website

Drinking Water Regulation Workshops

The Department's 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
Register by 5pm Friday 14 August 2026, via the link below:
Registration Form: Water Supply Regulation Drinking Water Workshop - Brisbane 2026
Charleville - Wednesday 2 September 2026
Location: Charleville Racecourse, 61 Partridge St, Charleville.
Register by 5pm Friday 14 August 2026, via the link below:
Registration Form: Water Supply Regulation Drinking Water Workshop - Charleville 2026

If you have questions or are no longer able to attend, please email drinkingwater.reporting@dlgwv.qld.gov.au.

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 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

Have Your Say on Future Water Planning

The Queensland Government is reviewing and replacing the Warrego, Paroo, Bulloo and Nebine Water Plan 2016 and is seeking community feedback on key water management issues, opportunities and challenges in the region.

Input from stakeholders will help shape a draft replacement plan, informed by the latest science and technical assessments. Submissions are open until 5pm, 28 September 2026.

Learn more and provide your feedback via the Public Consultation Notice or contact the water planning team at WPBNWaterPlan@dlgwv.qld.gov.au.

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.

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: