eFlash #677

eFlash #677 New

Date: 22-Oct-2026

End of Year Drinks - Celebrate with us!

As the year draws to a close, we invite members and supporters to join us for our End of Year Drinks on Wednesday, 18 November 2026, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm at the Green Deck, Parliament House, Brisbane.

We're delighted that Minister for Local Government and Water and Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers, Ann Leahy, and Assistant Minister for Primary Industry Development, Water and Western Queensland, Sean Dillon MP, have confirmed their attendance.

A big thank you to Dredging Solutions for sponsoring this year's event and helping keep it affordable for members.

National Water Week 2026

Happy National Water Week to all the water industry workers without whom the country would grind to a halt.

This year the theme is “Water Connects Everything”, to which we say: “Not Without Us”!

No water – no data centres.
No water – no critical minerals.
No water – no new homes.
No water – no hospitals.

You name it, water enables it.

A big thanks to everyone in our sector who plays a part in connecting water to all our communities, businesses and industries.

PFAS inquiry response offers little progress on source control

On 16 October 2026, the Australian Government tabled its response to the Senate Select Committee on PFAS final report, released in November 2025. Of its 47 recommendations, qldwater identified 25 as directly or indirectly relevant to urban water services.

Six were assessed as potentially beneficial, subject to appropriate implementation:

R11: Ban legacy PFAS firefighting foams.
R35: Remove PFAS from food contact packaging.
R39: Increase AICIS resourcing.
R40: Strengthen enforcement of IChEMS Schedule 7 restrictions.
R41: Enforce PFAS restrictions in cosmetics and personal care products.
R42: Introduce mandatory PFAS product labelling.

Ten others warranted a “wait and see” approach, while nine presented potential additional risks for the sector.

Of the six potentially beneficial recommendations, the Government agreed to only R40 and R41, with the remainder referred to existing programs (e.g. IChEMS) or state regulation. The response provides limited detail on additional enforcement activities, resourcing or timeframes. For R41enforcement would also be managed through IChEMS and state regulations. As it stands IChEMS may cover cosmetic formulations as well as packaging, although coverage depends on the chemicals and uses involved, including whether another regulatory framework applies.

The Government rejected R35, citing low dietary PFAS exposure and no demonstrated public health concern for the general population. This reasoning does not address downstream impacts when packaging enters recycling and municipal waste streams, including potential transfers through landfill leachate to wastewater systems.

Overall, qldwater considers the response maintains existing policy settings, with little or no additional commitment to upstream source control. Most recommendations identified as potentially increasing sector risks were “noted”, signalling no commitment to those proposals, but without ruling out future action.

Read the response here.

QWRAP at LGAQ Conference

This week Neil Holmes attended the 130th LGAQ conference in Cairns in his role as QWRAP Program Director. The event provided an opportunity to engage with program partners LGAQ, represented by Dan Field, and representatives from the Department of Local Government Water and Volunteers.

Dan and Neil helped Councillors and stakeholders gain a greater understanding of QWRAP, while also hearing firsthand about the challenges facing regional and remote communities.

Thanks to our partners LGAQ and DLGWV for providing the opportunity for qldwater to be part of this important conversation and showcase how QWRAP is supporting stronger regional collaboration across Queensland’s water sector.

Infrastructure Australia Cross Jurisdictional Meeting

qldwater will represent the Queensland water industry at an Infrastructure Australia (IA) cross-jurisdictional meeting on Friday, 30 October where the theme for the month is Water Security for Growth.

The session will explore how water infrastructure is being planned and delivered to support growth, including the relationship between future demand, infrastructure capacity, investment decisions and coordination across governments.

Our contribution will provide an opportunity to explore the water infrastructure needs of regional Queensland, including the importance of collaboration, long term planning and sustainable service delivery across communities with different circumstances and growth pressures.

WIOA Operator of the Year

A big congratulations to Queensland Operator of the Year, Matt Reusch, who secured the National Operator of the Year title at the NSW Conference and Exhibition.

With more than 23 years in the sector, Matt’s career spans water treatment, recycled water, operations, maintenance and major infrastructure delivery. His nomination highlighted significant contributions across Townsville’s water supply network — including leading the response to a Northern Water Treatment Plant pipeline failure, where temporary pumping, hoses and diesel generation were established to restore operations within four days. His practical leadership also shone during blue green algae challenges at Ross River Dam, where he guided a team to rebuild a temporary free chlorine system from available components and return it to service the same day.

Now serving as TRILITY’s Project Manager, Assets, Matt is widely respected for his technical expertise, commitment to safety, and dedication to developing future industry leaders. Respected for his technical skill, integrity and commitment to mentoring others, Matt continues to set the benchmark for operational excellence. Congratulations to Matt Reusch on this well-deserved national recognition.

Utility Awards 2026 Finalists Announced

Congratulations to all the teams named finalists in the inaugural 2026 Utility Awards, including qldwater’s own SWIM® team. The winners will be announced at a gala awards dinner in Melbourne on 27 October.

Queensland finalists include:

Field Excellence Award: Unitywater’s Mutual Aid Team
Diversity & Inclusion Program of the Year: Unitywater
Project Delivery Team of the Year: Gladstone Area Water Board & McConnell Dowell BMD JV
Safety Excellence Award: Unitywater
Utility of the Year: Unitywater
Cross-Utility Collaboration of the Year: Wide Bay Burnett Urban Water Alliance (WBBUWA)
Digital Transformation Project of the Year: qldwater for SWIM®
Utility Project of the Year: Gladstone Area Water Board for the Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline

We wish all finalists the very best and look forward to celebrating the outstanding people, projects and collaborations driving innovation and excellence across the utility sector.

OTHER NEWS

Urban Water Cycle Lego Ideas Model

A German LEGO fan has recreated the urban water cycle in almost 5,000 pieces, turning treatment plants, sewer networks, water distribution and seven industry professions into an educational model now competing on LEGO Ideas.

The Urban Water Cycle needs 10,000 supporters to enter LEGO’s review process. After its first three weeks, creator MOCingbird said the project had already attracted more than 1,300 votes and support from water organisations worldwide.

The infrastructure is only half the concept. Seven minifigures represent different roles involved in keeping water and wastewater systems operating including a Treatment Plant Operator, Sewer Maintenance Worker, Water Quality Laboratory Analyst, Maintenance Mechanic, Leak Detection Technician, Water Distribution Operator and an Electrical Technician.

The accompanying figure artwork gives each role its own work environment or equipment, including laboratory glassware, sewer access, control-room screens, electrical equipment and distribution infrastructure.

Read more about the lego set here, and if you love it as much as we do, vote for it here.

Water Summit 2026

Stormwater Queensland is hosting a Water Summit on Thursday 19 November to share ideas, practical insights and conversations shaping the future of stormwater management.

This year’s programme tackles three big themes:

Housing, growth and strategic planning: How can we improve stormwater outcomes as our communities grow?
Climate change and adaptation: Changing rainfall, nature-based solutions and lessons from rebuilding after major events.
Industry reform: Erosion and sediment control, engineering education and technology improving how we work.

More info and register here.

Making water's value visible

For National Water Week, AWA’s Water Literacy and Education Specialist Network members share how tours, storytelling and hands-on activities help communities understand water’s value and their role in protecting this essential resource for the future.

Buildskills Australia’s Workforce Plan 2026-27

BuildSkills Australia has released its Workforce Plan 2026-2027, providing a national view of labour supply and demand across the building and construction, property and water industries.

The plan brings together workforce projections, industry data and training indicators to show where demand is growing, where supply pressures are emerging, and how workforce trends vary across industries, occupations, regions and training pathways.

Read the Workforce Plan here.

Safe Work Australia WHS Review

Safe Work Australia has released its Best Practice Review of the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws, making 21 recommendations to strengthen Australia's WHS framework and improve consistency across jurisdictions.

Released amid growing concern about workplace fatalities, the review highlights the need for stronger national coordination to prevent work-related deaths and better mechanisms to ensure coronial findings are shared and acted upon consistently. It also reinforces the importance of nationally harmonised WHS laws and their consistent application and enforcement across Australia.

The review identifies artificial intelligence, climate change, and harmful workplace behaviours, including violence and harassment, as key emerging challenges. It recommends coordinated national strategies to help ensure Australia's WHS framework remains effective in a changing workplace environment.

Public Hearings for Determinants of regional airfares inquiry

The Productivity Commission has opened registrations for public hearings for its inquiry into the Determinants of regional airfares. The public hearings will be held online on:

Friday 27 November 2026
Monday 30 November 2026
Wednesday 2 December 2026.

The public hearings will give individuals and organisations an opportunity to respond to the interim report, which will be released in mid-November.

You can register to appear at or observe the public hearings. There will also be an opportunity to make written submissions to the inquiry before and after the public hearings. Registrations close on Thursday 19 November 2026.

New planning compliance webpage and reporting pathway

The Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning (the Department) has launched a Planning Compliance web page and online reporting form to improve understanding of the Department’s compliance and enforcement role in relation to state development approvals and provide a clear pathway for reporting suspected breaches under the Planning Act 2016.

The Department issues a range of state development approvals that may be enforced by other government or local authorities, for example Ministerial Infrastructure Designations and State Facilitated Development.

The Department regulates compliance for the following state development approvals:

State interest matters under the Planning Act
Wind farms
Solar farms (1MW or more)
Battery storage facilities (50MW or more).

The Planning Compliance webpage provides information on:

how the Department monitors and enforces compliance with state development approvals
how suspected breaches are assessed, investigated and addressed through a range of enforcement actions.

The online reporting form enables community members, industry representatives and local governments to report suspected breaches of state development approvals.

CURRENT CONSULTATIONS

Draft State Planning Policy Open for Consultation

The Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning is seeking feedback on a draft State Planning Policy, a key part of Queensland’s planning framework. It sets out the state’s interests in land use planning and development and guides how local planning instruments are prepared and applied across Queensland.

The draft State Planning Policy proposes several changes, including:

new strategic aspirations
a revised structure
updated and consolidated state interests
changes to supporting statutory tools and guidance materials

Consultation close next Monday, 26 October. If you want to contribute to qldwater’s submission please contact Georgina.

Georgina and Diamantina Water Plan

The Queensland Government is calling on water users, communities and industries to have their say on the draft Georgina and Diamantina water plan.

The new plan aims to replace the current water plan and support the region’s long-term water security, while creating greater opportunities for future economic and community development.

Consultation closes 16 December 2026.

More information and submit feedback here.

Price monitoring investigation: Unitywater and Urban Utilities

The Queensland Government directed the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) to conduct a price monitoring investigation into the monopoly business activities of Unitywater and Urban Utilities.

Unitywater and Urban Utilities have submitted pricing proposals for the period 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2030. These proposals, together with supporting documents, are now available on the QCA’s website.

The QCA invites stakeholders to provide initial submissions on the businesses' pricing proposals by 5 October 2026. If you want to contribute to qldwater’s submission, please contact Georgina.

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