eFlash #548
Date: 17-Aug-2022
In this edition: Vale Mark Pascoe| Current Media Focus on SEQ Water Security| AWA QLD Technical Event: The Untold Stories of Water Sector Resilience| The Best of the Best Queensland Water Taste Test – Enter Now!| qldwater Annual Forum – Regos Close this Friday!| Resource Library Update – now easy access to recorded webinars| Position Available – Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water| Position Available – Redland City Council
1.Vale Mark Pascoe
It is with great sadness that we advise of the passing of Mark Pascoe; a great supporter of the water industry and the AWA generally and the first to put his hand up for qldwater-led industry committees or if we ever needed someone at an event to speak on broader strategy or help synthesise a workshop.
Our condolences to all of Mark’s family, friends and colleagues.
2. Current Media focus on SEQ Water Security
Over the last few days there have been a number of articles on water security including interviews with both sides of state politics, with attempts to re-ignite the purified recycled water debate. While qldwater has not been asked to comment by the media, some members have sought advice on our “position.” We are normally reluctant to buy in to such debates, but offer the following in the hope that it supports members who may get enquiries:
- Based on the best information available, water security in SEQ is a significant future risk which has likely been exacerbated by recent population growth.
- The options for reducing demand are more limited than they were prior to the major investment in the SEQ Water Grid and all new supply options carry significant expense.
- qldwater supports prudent public investment in infrastructure to support communities. On that basis, prior to any new major expenditure, the investment already made in the recycled water infrastructure as part of the Grid should be maximised and front of mind in considering the future water needs of the region. This includes the potential use of purified recycled water to augment drinking water supply.
- The WSAA publication “All Options On The Table” is a useful resource for comparisons of water supply options.
3. AWA QLD Technical Event: The Untold Stories of Water Sector Resilience
qldwater members are invited to attend the next AWA Queensland Branch Technical Event to hear a panel of experts share their untold stories of resilience in the water sector. From floods, cyclones, bushfires and ‘rain bombs’, weather events and natural disasters are dynamic in nature, and unique in the impacts they have on our communities, our water ways and our water infrastructure. The water industry, as it is known for, works incredibly hard to keep its critical services running, to get them back in action as soon as possible, and to improve their resilience for the future. This session will share the stories and hard-learned lessons by those who have worked tirelessly to improve the resilience of our communities in the water sector.
Panellists:
Vanessa Thompson, Urban Utilities
Peter Manning, Gympie Regional Council
Cody Bemis, Unitywater
Date: Wednesday 24 August 2022
Time: Registration from 5.15pm for 5.30pm
Venues: AECOM Office, 8/540 Wickham St, Fortitude Valley with regional hub events at the AECOM offices in Townsville, Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton and a virtual option also available
qldwater members are invited to attend at AWA member prices, please choose the ‘Member’ registration option when registering for your preferred location or online. More information and registration is available at: https://www.awa.asn.au/upcoming-events/qld-august-tech-event. Please contact Carlie Sargent on csargent@awa.asn.au or 0418 759 450 with any queries.
4. The Best of the Best Queensland Water Taste Test – Enter Now!
Taste Test Entries close Friday 26th August.
Back by popular demand and open to all qldwater members, the Best of the Best Queensland Water Taste Test competition will establish who has the best tasting tap water in Queensland in 2022. If you plan to enter a sample at our Annual Forum in September, now is the time to start thinking about your top drop. Some of our members take the competition more seriously than others and even host their own taste test events to select their best sample to enter!
Each year the competition gets bigger and better. Since its inception in 2011, the competition now crosses borders with WIOA taking the challenge to NSW with the Water of Origin Taste Test. Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania followed with the first National Ixom Australia Best of the Best Tasting Tap Water competition held in 2015.
We are also thrilled to announce that TracWater has signed up as the sponsor for the Best of the Best Queensland Water Taste Test for 2022!
To enter the taste test competition, please fill out the entry form here.
5. qldwater Annual Forum – Regos Close this Friday!
Registrations Closing Friday 19th August.
The Queensland Water Directorate (qldwater) invites you to join us for our Annual Forum on the Gold Coast 6th-8th September 2022.
The qldwater Annual Forum is being held on the 7th & 8th of September with an additional ‘Innovation and Research Showcase’ being held on the 6th of September.
This year’s forum is being graciously hosted by City of Gold Coast with most events based at HOTA – Home of the Arts and a day tour around the Gold Coast. Council’s generous support has allowed us to make the leap into professional AV for this growing event and we’d like to acknowledge the management team including our SPG rep, Chris Owen, for making this possible.
A copy of the programs for the three days is available on our event website.
If you have not been to one of our forums before, it is not something you will want to miss! A chance to network with 100 plus water industry professionals, typically including 30 plus councils/utilities.
This year our focus is trying to get as many people to attend in person as possible. It will be a great opportunity to network with likeminded people, as such there will be no virtual registrations for this forum.
Day 1 – Research and Innovation Showcase - 6 September
For the last few years, the first day of the qldwater Annual Forum has focussed on a technical topic of broad interest to members with 2021 looking at automated metering. 2022 is a bit of everything, kindly supported by members of the SEQ Research and Innovation Group and Water Services Association of Australia. Join us to hear about the kinds of technologies water and sewerage service providers should be considering in the coming decade, short presentations from water service providers on a number of water and sewerage examples available now, approaches to help develop business cases and opportunities for joint investment in initiatives – getting better bang for buck from a whole industry approach. Our themes for the event ensure it will be as inclusive as possible:
- Fit for purpose/ place
- Utility led, not vendors
- Whole of life cycle cost considerations
- Engaging for a broad audience including regional and remote providers
- Doesn’t have to be a “whole thing” – can include process enhancements, tweaks and simple things to deliver value
Day 2 – Tours and fun stuff 7 September
We have site tours lined up for the Tugun desalination plant with thanks to Seqwater, and Merrimac recycled water projects with thanks to City of Gold Coast, where there has been a major investment and a range of new completed construction and cool stuff to check out.
The rest of the day will include lunch in the park by the beach at Australia’s tourism capital (under marquees just in case), the Best of the Best Queensland Water Taste Test, some presentations from City of Gold Coast on local issues and challenges and the annual vendor pitches – which support scholarships for qldwater members to attend industry events.
There are no more spots available for the morning site tours, however spots are still available for lunch and the afternoon session. There is a waiting list available, if you would like to be added to the list, contact Naomi on ncarragher@qldwater.com.au
Day 2 – Conference dinner 7 September
A great opportunity to network with industry representatives from across the state, with entertainment supplied via “A beer and a chat with the Elder Water Professionals.”
Day 3 – Industry strategy 8 September
We are still finalising our guest invitations but this is our chance each year to work through broader industry strategy (the qldwater “Roadmap”) to consider how we incorporate the significant disruptions over the last couple of years and adapting water businesses to the “new normal.” The focus issues will largely be determined by you, but many members are dealing with increasing pressures around supply chain, increasing regulation, extreme events and betterment, population growth, sourcing skills including operations and different ways staff work.
Always highly interactive and thought-provoking, the strategy day is critical in shaping qldwater’s advocacy on your behalf.
Thank you to our other sponsors Grenof - Principal Sponsor, tracwater - Taste Test Sponsor, Veolia – Platinum Sponsor, Calibre – Gold/Dinner Sponsor, Simmonds & Bristow – Silver/Lunch Sponsor, Endress+Hauser – Silver/Lunch Sponsor, Royce Water Technology – Vendor Pitch Sponsor, Taggle – Vendor Pitch Sponsor, SUEZ – Vendor Pitch Sponsor, Concept Environmental Services – Vendor Pitch Sponsor, EnviroSonic - Bronze Sponsor, McCullough Robertson Lawyers - Bronze Sponsor, Trility - Bronze Sponsor.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available across the three days. If you are interested in sponsoring any of the days, please contact Naomi Carragher on 07 3632 6850 or ncarragher@qldwater.com.au.
This is a great opportunity to connect with your peers across the state. We hope to see you there!
6. Resource Library Update – now easy access to recorded webinars
qldwater and Water Skills Partnership members can now access all our Fundamentals webinars directly from our Resource Library. The library is structured according to six different topic areas:
- Water Source – resources that relate to water sources including rivers, dams, bores etc
- Water Treatment – resources that relate to anything that happens at a water treatment plant
- Water Network – resources related to the broader water network outside of the treatment plant including pipes, pumps, reservoirs etc
- Sewage Treatment – resources relating to anything that happens at a sewage treatment plant
- Sewage Network - resources relating to the broader sewerage network, including pipes and pumps
- Recycle and Reuse – resources relating to the recycle and reuse of water, wastewater, biosolids etc
- Whole of Business – resources that cover the whole business e.g. management, human resources, planning etc
- Customers – resources relating to customer service / standards
Each topic area has a number of tabs at the top of the page:
- qldwater Resources – documents produced by qldwater
- Other Resources – documents from other organisations
- Member sample documents – documents kindly shared by our member organisations
- Contracts and specifications – documents downloaded from VendorPanel and eTenderBox
- Presentations – interesting presentations from our events over the years
- Webinars – the latest addition, linking to our Fundamentals Webinar series
You can also see all the webinars on this page https://qldwater.com.au/fundamentals-webinar-series
Please remember to log in before you start searching to avoid the prompts!
7. Position Available – Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water
Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water (Organisation site)
Water Supply Regulation; Divisional Support; Water Resource Management; Brisbane / Flexible.
The water supply regulation team is responsible for monitoring compliance with the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008, as it applies to water and sewerage providers.
The regulatory officer is required to accurately interpret and evaluate scientific and technical information to assess performance of drinking and recycled water providers, provide sound regulatory advice and have the technical knowledge to accurately identify and investigate drinking and recycled water incidents, non-compliance and other maters with potential risk to public health.
If you would like to find out more information about the role, please click here.
8. Two Positions Available – Cairns Regional Council
Water and Environment Systems Officer (2 x Positions Available)
Salary Range: $76,500.84 - $86,689.08 per annum
Location: 119 - 145 Spence Street, Cairns
Reference Number: 14066
Close Date: Sunday, 21 August 2022
- Do you have keen interest in environmental and drinking water management?
- Do you enjoy being a part of a collaborative team?
- Are you seeking an opportunity to use your skills and knowledge for positive change in a diverse and interesting workplace?
If you answered yes to these questions, then we would love to hear from you!
We offer the following benefits:
- 19-day month
- Up to 5 weeks’ annual leave
- 12% contribution to superannuation
- 5% Annual leave loading
- Subsidised health and well-being membership (gym/swimming pool)
- On-going opportunities for learning and professional development relevant to the position
Your Team:
The Water and Environment team are a talented group working to achieve effective and efficient management system support to our internal customers. Our goal is to provide confidence to achieve organisational success through leadership and support.
Who we are:
Cairns Regional Council is an equal opportunity employer, promoting workplace diversity and a safety culture with a smoke free environment.
Develop your career with Cairns Regional Council, an innovative employer that listens, respects and values your contribution. We’re proud of our community and the key role you can play in making the Cairns region a great place to live, work and learn.
Your turn, now we want to hear about you!
- Qualifications
- Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- People Oriented Skills & Attributes
To apply, candidates will need to visit our Mercury recruitment system (I have included a link below) and apply directly through there. Cairns Regional Council - Mercury eRecruit
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