eFlash #465
Date: 08-Jan-2021
In this edition: Sustainable Water and Sewerage Services for Regional and Remote Communities Event - Registrations Now Open! | NPR Indicator Review Update and Indicator Survey| Next Essentials Webinar - first one for 2021!
1. Sustainable Water and Sewerage Services for Regional and Remote Communities Event - Registrations Now Open!
The Queensland Water Directorate and New South Wales Water Directorate are pleased to announce that the registration portal is now open our deferred joint event – ‘Sustainable water and sewerage services for regional and remote communities’ – to be held in Goondiwindi on 17-18 February 2021.
It will be another 'hybrid' event. We hope to see as many members and stakeholders attend in person and there will also be a large online component which will be as interactive as possible for those attending virtually.
A preliminary version of the program is available on the event website and includes a mix of speakers on strategic and technical solutions, as well as panel sessions and workshops to explore five themes relevant to small and remote communities:
1. Funding water and sewerage services responsibly and sustainably
2. Choosing fit-for-purpose technology
3. Negotiating levels of service
4. Appropriate approaches to compliance and regulation
5. Readiness for alternative supplies
All sessions will be available online with interactive sessions to keep all participants involved in the discussion and canvass ideas and opinions.
A sample of presentation topics includes:
- Resilience in Small Towns.
- Panel session on shared strategic challenges including panelists from NSW, NT, Qld and WSAA
- Exploring governance and regulation for small communities
- Session on navigating technology traps
- Workshop on key messages for decision-makers and funders in other levels of government
The new program represents a slight shift in focus – while we were originally keen to include a showcase of fit-for-purpose technologies, the original intent will be difficult to deliver in a hybrid format, and many of the presentations have now been picked up through our Essentials Webinars.
This is not a standard conference – it is a specifically themed event with a strategic aim of informing our industry roadmap and developing practical recommendations for service providers and government. It is also an exciting collaboration opportunity with NSW councils.
Register here to book your spot now! Early bird pricing ends 15 January 2021.
2. NPR Indicator Review Update and Indicator Survey
As advised in eFlash #462 a review of NPR indicators is underway with and extended timeline for industry feedback. Key points are:
The review is being carried out by HARC/Aither/Risk Edge consulting
- Slides from as Information session held on the 1st December are available at https://www.npr.harc.com.au/national-briefing/
- Submissions are open until February 19th, 2021 (see https://www.npr.harc.com.au/call-for-submissions/)
- Consultation will continue throughout 2021 and include workshops, follow up interviews and opportunities to provide feedback on the proposed indicators suite
- Contact the BoM NPR Indicator Review team with any questions at: npr_indicator_review@bom.gov.au
- A survey about the indicators has been forwarded to all ‘Reporting Entities’ by the Department. Feedback collected from the surveys will be public unless respondents request it to remain confidential.
Please send any surveys, questions and comments to harcnprreview@harc.com.au by the 19th February 2021
3. Next Essentials Webinar - first one for 2021!
Essentials Webinar: 28 January 2021 at 10am. Register Now!
We are kicking off the New Year with our first essentials webinar on 28 January.
We have two presentations lined up, each with an assets focus:
- Nadine Story and Noel Ralph from Urban Utilities will speak on a ‘seven-year major sewer upgrade project that is approaching completion’.
- Dr Joe Mathew from the Asset Institute at Queensland University of Technology will speak on ‘Innovations in Asset Management’.
We will be delivering Essentials Webinars via MS Teams in the new year, which has meant a slight change to the registration process. You will receive confirmation at the time of your registration, with details for accessing the webinar emailed to you a few days prior to the event. The webinars are free for employees of qldwater members. Non-members can participate in the Essentials webinars for a cost of $50 plus GST, payable on registration.
Recordings of all previous webinars are available for members to access via the qldwater website.