eFlash #540
Date: 22-Jun-2022
In this edition: New Starters at qldwater| State Budget – Queensland Water Projects Funding| Gympie Regional Conference – Two weeks left to register!| Water Skills Forum Presentations – Now Available| Position Available – Cairns Regional Council
1. New Starters at qldwater
We are very pleased to announce the commencement of two new staff for qldwater.
Jess Dean actually started with us at the end of May as our new Account Manager – Innovation Partnerships. She was formerly a Waterwatch Coordinator and Catchment Officer for the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee and will now be focussed on QWRAP activities for a significant part of her time with other duties evolving. Jess will be based in Gympie but spending time in Brisbane and elsewhere in regional Queensland as required.
Linda Roberts will commence on 18 July as our new Director - Innovation Partnerships. Linda has worked with a number of councils in different senior roles, most recently with Isaac. She will be leading QWRAP and brings with her a long-term association with qldwater and the program, including as a former chair of a regional alliance. Linda will continue to work from Mackay on a trial basis.
Welcome Jess and Linda – the recruitment market is a challenge at present and we consider ourselves very lucky to have scored two candidates of such high calibre…
2. State Budget – Queensland Water Projects Funding
The following summarises the press release from yesterday concerning water projects being supported through the State budget:
- Total $510 million announced for water infrastructure and planning to drive jobs and better services.
- More than $447 million has been set aside for water security projects.
- More than $300 million has been committed to deliver the Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline project to provide drought contingency for Warwick and surrounding communities and a permanent water supply to Toowoomba satellite communities.
- In the state’s Far North, $107.5 million over the next two years has been committed to shore up Stage 1 of the Cairns Water Security program, to support the growing needs of the far north (complementing federal funding already announced).
- $40.4 million over three years has been allocated to construction of a drinking water pipeline from Gracemere to Mt Morgan, as well as necessary water infrastructure upgrades in Gracemere.
- $26 million committed to the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct for enabling infrastructure, including a reservoir and 13km pipeline, connecting the precinct and pump station to the Haughton Pipeline.
- $25.6 million for the development of Flinders Shire Council’s Hughenden Water Bank project: a 7000 megalitre, off-stream water storage and distribution system to support development and expansion of irrigated agriculture and industry development.
- $39 million allocated in 2022-23 to further support regional communities with urban water supply and water treatment infrastructure.
- The Cloncurry Community Service Obligation payments will continue, with almost $28 million over four years to subsidise the delivery of water to Cloncurry Shire Council, via the North West Queensland Pipeline.
- Stage 2 of the Rural Water Futures program has also received $9.3 million in funding over the next two years to ensure water resources are managed sustainably into the future and to deliver tangible benefits to irrigators, the environment and community more broadly.
The following investments were also confirmed:
- $7.1 million allocated over four years to enhance water modelling capacity to support water planning, water security and infrastructure assessments.
- $5.5 million provided over four years to develop a Queensland bulk water infrastructure assessment plan, a strategic framework to inform future water infrastructure investment decisions.
- $4.9 million over four years for a Queensland rural water compliance system, to develop improved systems and capability, which will support the department’s compliance and enforcement of the Water Act
- $3.4 million over four years to address recommendations from the Queensland Audit Office report into dam safety regulation including recruiting specialist regulation, compliance and engineering staff and further developing information communication technology capability.
The government is providing additional funding of $300,000 in 2022-23 to the State Council of River Trusts Queensland to continue to support the work of River Improvement Trusts across the state.
To view the full media release click here.
3. Gympie Regional Conference – Two weeks left to register!
qldwater is excited to announceregistrations are now open for our Gympie Regional Conference, kindly hosted by Gympie Regional Council on the 13th & 14th July.
There will be a site tour taking place on Wednesday 13th July in the afternoon. The site tour will be themed around Gympie floods including management and recovery. In conjunction with the Wide Bay Burnett Urban Water Alliance, we are aiming to sponsor the attendance of a number of current university students with potential interest in the water sector, with a specific session at the event devoted to careers.
Following the site tour there will be a network dinner taking place at The Bunker Smokehouse & Bar at 6pm.
The full day conference will take place on Thursday 14th July at The Pavilion Conferences & Reception
To see the program for the conference, please visit our event website.
Due to the floods earlier in the year, accommodation could be a challenge due the number of contractors currently assisting with repairs in the area so please arrange your accommodation as soon as possible.
Thank you to our sponsors Grenof, WAGNERS, GanDen, Royce Water Technology, Simmonds & Bristow, Endress+Hauser, McBerns, Taggle and Xylem for supporting our upcoming conference.
Please contact Naomi Carragher if you are interested in sponsoring this event.
4. Water Skills Forum Presentations – Now Available
The 2022 Water Skills Forum brought together 100 participants from across Australia, both in person and online, to share experiences of the challenges and opportunities in securing a sustainable workforce to provide an essential service to all Queensland communities.
The presentations from the Water Skills Forum are now available for viewing at the below link:
https://qldwater.com.au/water-skills-forum-2022
5. Position Available – Cairns Regional Council
Senior Engineer Dams – WS4024 (Full-Time Permanent)
Cairns Regional Council is currently seeking a Senior Engineer Dams to join our Cairns Infrastructure & Assets Department.
Primary Objective of the position:
- Fulfil the role of the lead authority in Council on matters relating to dam safety and lead Council’s commitment to dam safety through effectively delivering Council’s dam safety management program.
To be successful in this role you must have:
- Bachelor of Engineering or other relevant tertiary qualification.
- Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) under the Professional Engineers Act 2002 to undertake or directly supervise an engineering service with competency in areas of engineering relevant to dam safety.
- Suitable qualifications and demonstration of competency to conduct routine inspections of dams and concrete structures.
- Demonstrated knowledge and skills in dam safety engineering in Australia, including with dam safety management programs.
- Demonstrated ability to prepare written documents in a concise and succinct manner, appropriate to the intended audience, so that technical issues are effectively communicated.
For a full listing of the Key Duties & Responsibilities and full Selection Criteria please ensure you obtain a copy of the information kit and how to apply by visiting the Cairns Regional Council website, scrolling to the Position Description area, then clicking on "Open" to download the attachment.
Enquiries: Cairns Regional Council Recruitment Team
Ph:(07) 4044 3310
Applications Close: Sunday, 3 July 2022