2013/14 Annual Review

Annual Review 2013 /2014 Providing regional water authorities with independent, expert advice, technical support, shared industry knowledge, improved PMS > efficiencies and long term planning. CMYK > REVERSED > Cover photos provided courtesy of MidCoast Water Chair Review and Executive Officer Review CHAIR REVIEW EXECUTIVE OFFICER REVIEW First I want to acknowledge our previous Chair, Stewart The Water Directorate was initially established to fill McLeod, who resigned from the position in March after a gap in technical expertise left by the abolition of the serving almost eight years. Prior to being Chair, Stewart Department of Public Works in the mid 1990s. Since our was also a Deputy Chair and is one of only two remaining first meeting in December 1998 the Water Directorate has members of the inaugural Water Directorate Executive produced more than 40 technical manuals and documents, Committee. distributed approximately 5,000 copies to members and sold over 1,110 copies to water industry professionals. In particular I want to note the strong leadership skills This is an impressive feat for a small, not for profit demonstrated by Stewart that have provided the Water organisation, with only one and half full time staff. Directorate with a steady base to address ongoing challenges in the local government water industry. I am Over the past year we have continued to fulfil this objective pleased that Stewart has elected to remain on the Executive and published another four technical documents: three Committee to continue providing us with the benefit of his documents were revisions of previous documents that extensive industry knowledge. required updates following legislative or policy changes and a fourth document was newly developed to assist LWUs to It is now seven years since local government water reforms determine the environmental impact of their activities. were first proposed by the previous Government. In April 2014 the State Government appointed The Hon. Mr Kevin When the Water Directorate was established one of Humphries MP as the new Minister for Natural Resources, objectives was to showcase industry best practice through Lands and Water. The Water Directorate would welcome a the sponsorship of specific water industry awards. This formal response from Mr Humphries on behalf of the State year the WIOA Operator of the Year award was won by Government to the proposed the local government water Todd Pattison from Wyong Shire Council. The joint AWA/ reforms. Water Directorate Conference Attendance Award was won by Luke Whitten from Liverpool Plains Shire Council. Both In the absence of a formal response from the State were very worth winners of these highly contested awards. Government the Water Directorate has continued to prepare submissions to the various government inquiries. In the In September we hosted our eleventh Water Directorate past year we have prepared five industry-wide submissions. Forum at the LG NSW Water Management Conference in Preparing submissions is very time consuming, however, Terrigal and in October we hosted a Dam Safety Forum in it is important because it ensures the views of industry Sydney to discuss the KPMG Review of the Dams Safety Act practitioners are well represented. A copy of each of our 1978 and Dams Safety Committee report. The panellists, submissions is available on the website to view in the presenters and attendees made both these forums very members section. successful events and we thank them for their participation. A major focus of the Water Directorate over the next 12 During the past year Executive Committee members have months will be updating our extensive suite of manuals and represented the Water Directorate at the following events: guidelines. To do this we are considering the engagement the NWC Water Research Forum, AWA gala dinners and of additional resources to ensure our technical documents regional meetings, OzWater’14, WSAA meetings and remain current, timely and relevant for our member both the NSW and Queensland WIOA Conferences. I councils. particularly want to thank Executive Committee members I would like to thank all the members of the Executive for their ongoing commitment to representing the Water Committee for their involvement in our activities over the Directorate and promoting our activities. past year. I particularly want to thank retiring members David Lastly I want to thank Stewart McLeod for his tireless support Byrne, David Tull, Eric Poga and Greg Finlayson who have and contribution to the success of the Water Directorate over been long standing members of the Executive Committee. the past 15 years. I want to thank him for his leadership and Finally I want to thank our member councils for your assistance over the past eight years as Chair and I also want ongoing support. Your assistance and participation is a key to thank Dubbo City Council and its General Manager for reason for our success as a membership organisation. permitting Stewart's ongoing involvement. Jeff Sharp Gary Mitchell 15 Years of Highlights As an incorporated association, the Water Directorate has harnessed the collective knowledge and experience of the hundreds of committed water industry staff from regional and remote NSW over the past fifteen years. With the assistance of our 97 member councils we have been able to achieve the following: 1,132 95% 94 40 TECHNICAL OF ELIGIBLE LOCAL EXECUTIVE TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS WATER UTILITIES COMMITTEE MANUALS AND SOLD ARE MEMBERS MEETINGS HELD GUIDELINES DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS 175 PUBLISHED 14 EXCELLENCE 11 IN WATER AND 13 LOCAL GOVERNMENT WASTEWATER IPWEA (NSW DIVISION) WATER NSW WATER INNOVATION AWARDS MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE DIRECTORATE PRESENTED STREAMS CONVENED FORUMS HOSTED 10 2 7 CONFERENCE LGSA ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATOR OF THE ATTENDANCE AwARD BEST PRACTICE AwARDS YEAR AwARD WINNERS WINNERS SPONSORED PRESENTED SPONSORED High Priority Actions A key objective of the Water Directorate is to provide At the annual planning meeting our list of priority actions is technical advice and support to our member councils. reviewed and updated. Members are always encouraged to We achieved this objective in 2013/14 by: send suggestions for new projects and are formally invited • producing relevant and timely technical publications to attend the Annual General Meeting in early November. • making submissions to various government inquiries During the annual planning meeting our Strategic • sponsoring industry best practice awards Plan is reviewed and updated. A copy of our current • convening workshops on relevant industry topics and Strategic Plan is available on request. Project suggestions • hosting an online discussion forum for water industry or enquiries should be sent to Gary Mitchell on professionals [email protected] Publications, Submissions and Events 2013/14 JUL 2013 AUG 2013 SEP 2013 • Publication of the revised Backflow Prevention and • Executive Officer • Hosted the Water Cross Connection Control Guidelines attended the AWA Directorate Forum at • Executive Officer attended the National Water Heads of Water LG NSW Conference Commission's Water Research Forum in Canberra Dinner in Sydney at Terrigal OCT 2013 NOV 2013 DEC 2013 • Hosted a Dam Safety Management Forum in • Executive Officer and • Submission made to Sydney to discuss the KPMG Review of the Dams Executive Committee the National Water Safety Act 1978 and Dams Safety Committee members attended the Commission’s 2014 • Executive Officer attended the Annual WSAA WSAA Regional NSW Triennial Assessment Members meeting in Canberra meeting in Sydney Urban Water Futures JAN 2014 FEB 2014 MAR 2014 • Publication of • Submission made to the Joint Review of the Water Industry the Guidelines Competition Act 2006 and Regulatory Arrangements for Water for the Review of Recycling under the Local Government Act 1993 Environmental Factors • Executive Officer attended the AWA NSW President's Dinner in Sydney APR 2014 MAY 2014 JUN 2014 • Publication of the Blue-Green Algae Management Protocols • Presented the • Published the • Presented the WIOA Operator of the Year Award to Todd AWA Conference Cutting, Handling and Pattison of Wyong Shire Council Attendance Award Disposal of Asbestos to Luke Whitten of Cement Pipes • Submission made to the Local Government Acts Taskforce Liverpool Plains Guidelines • Submission made to the Independent Local Government Shire Council • Executive Committee Review Panel Final Report • Submission made to representative • Executive Officer attended the AWA National President's the NSW Legislative attended the WIOA Dinner at Ozwater in Brisbane Assembly, QLD Operators • Executive Officer attended the WIOA NSW Operators Committee on Conference at Conference in Orange Legal Affairs the Gold Coast Member Regions Central West Region New England Region Council Central Darling Council Bathurst Regional Council Armidale Dumaresq Council Cobar Shire Council Blayney Shire Council Glen Innes Severn Council Coonamble Shire Council Cabonne Council Gunnedah Shire Council Dubbo City Council Central Tablelands Water Guyra Shire Council Gilgandra Shire Council Cowra Shire Council Gwydir Shire Council Mid Western Regional Council Forbes Shire Council Inverell Shire Council Narromine Shire Council Lachlan Shire Council Liverpool Plains Shire Council Walgett Shire Council Lithgow City Council Moree Plains Shire Council Warren Shire Council Oberon Council Narrabri Shire Council Warrumbungle Shire Council Orange City Council Tamworth Regional Council

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