Water Sector News

1. The National Water Commission has released a report that explores the policy implications of the large-scale development of geothermal energy resources and their impact on water quality and availability. (National Water Commission)

2. The world has met the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of halving the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water, well in advance of the MDG 2015 deadline, according to a report issued by UNICEF and WHO. However, the sanitation target is still lagging behind. (WHO)

3. The Australian Green Infrastructure Council (AGIC) has launched the Infrastructure Sustainability Rating Scheme, the nation’s first rating scheme for sustainable infrastructure projects. The scheme is comprised of a rating tool, assessment process, education and training programs. AGIC’s scheme can be applied to a broad range of infrastructure types, including roads, bridges, ports, harbours, airports, energy infrastructure, water storage and supply, communication transmission and distribution. (Property Oz)

4. The Western Australian Water Corporation will start $4.7 million of upgrade works this month to one of Karrathas water tanks. The works will improve the security and reliability of water supply in the town. This is the final stage of a suite of works which included duplicating 2.95 kilometres of water main on Stovehill Road and Karratha Road, completed in September 2011. (Water Corporation)

5. The Innovation Interchange is an exclusive global business community to solve infrastructure challenges. To celebrate UN World Water Day on March 22, you can support the world's most disadvantaged communities through the Building Communities campaign in March. GHD, Principal Supporter of the Innovation Interchange, will donate up to $5,000 to WaterAid based on the number of new member registrations and other activities recorded in the web portal during March. (Innovation Interchange)

6. eWater has released Eco Evidence, a software tool to support evidence-based decision-making in environmental management. The software lets users search and access a reusable knowledge bank of pieces of evidence, extracted from scientific papers, to answer cause-effect questions, make assessments, plan for restorations, and carry out critical reviews on a specific topic of interest. (Australian River Restoration Centre)

7. The Government has allocated $200 million over five years to the Clean Technology Innovation Program. The program will support the research, development and commercialisation of clean technology products, processes and services. It will fund the development of a range of clean technologies including low emission and other energy efficient technologies. (AusIndustry)

8. The Tasmanian Water Minister Bryan Green has said his government is considering a proposal by Victorian company Docklands Science Park to construct a pipeline to export surplus water across the Bass Strait. Docklands Science Park has announced it wants to lay a six-metre diameter pipeline across the Bass Strait to pump excessive water from Tasmania’s hydro schemes to Victoria and South Australia. (ABC)

9. The UN's World Water Development Report will be released today. The report says that there are many challenges ahead including providing clean water and sanitation to the poor, feeding a world population set to rise from seven billion to nine billion by 2050 and coping with the impact of global warming. (SBS)

Member News

Project Manager needed for AWA Specialist Networks (maternity leave position)
AWA is seeking an experienced and qualified Project Manager to manage and coordinate the effective delivery of Specialist Networks and associated activities. The Project Manager will be responsible for making AWA’s Specialist Networks vibrant and visible, working directly with the Specialist Networks’ committees. This is a broad role requiring significant project management and communications skills. The role will include being involved in the planning processes for yearly activities, facilitating the implementation of action plans, coordinating the content for events, and generating communications. Applications, including a detailed covering letter and resume should be sent to aspeers@awa.asn.au. For more information visit the AWA website.

Call for Volunteers for Water Journal Editorial Committee
Water is the official Journal of the Australian Water Association (AWA) and is produced eight times a year and distributed to more than 6,000 people and organisations. Each issue contains peer reviewed articles and technical papers of topical interest to the readership. AWA is seeking to broaden the participation of the existing Editorial Committee, both geographically and in areas of expertise, and invites expressions of interest from AWA members. Selected members will typically serve for a period of two years and may be resident anywhere in Australia. Applications should include a brief CV of about 200 words and include a statement on the applicant’s areas of expertise and thoughts on the future direction of the water industry. Selected applicants will be advised by the end of April 2012, with the first meeting at Ozwater’12 in May in Sydney. Contact Wayne Castle: wcastle@awa.asn.au

New Directors for AECOMAECOM has appointed two new directors to its Water business in Australia and New Zealand. Lucia Cade, President of AWA has been appointed as Director – Strategy and Development and will lead strategic growth across ANZ. Stephen Answerth has been appointed as Associate Director of its water and wastewater team in Victoria and Tasmania.

Riversymposium partner sessions
Submissions are due this Friday, 16 March from any interested organisation looking to convene a partner sessions at the 15th International Riversymposium to be held in Melbourne from 8-11 October 2012. Further information and template available here.

Japan Water Works Association visiting Australia
This week, AWA is hosting a delegation from the Japan organised by the Japan Water Works Association visiting Australia as part of an overseas trend study tour on regulations, specifications, materials and structures of water supply and services. Their visit includes presentations from Sydney Water, South East Water and Yarra Valley Water, the Master Plumbing Association, Plumbing Industry Commission (Victoria) and site visits.

Events and Courses

Biosolids and Source Management Conference, 18-20 June 2012, Gold Coast
Do not miss out! Registration now open! The conference will allow for sharing knowledge on the treatment process and influent contaminants that may reduce the outlets for this reuse. Keynotes include Dr. John Novak, Virginia Tech (USA); Professor Jurg Keller, Director, Advanced Water Management Centre; Bill Barber, AECOM; and Michael Catchpole, Allconnex.
Download the registration brochure and program.
To register go to www.awa.asn.au/bsmconference

2nd National Operations Conference, 12-14 September 2012, Darwin
Call for abstracts now open!
The National Operations Conference provides a forum for learning and knowledge sharing on the challenges being faced by those working in operations in a changing climate and industry. Reflecting the top-end location, there will be a focus on small and remote operations, as well as topical issues like mining and recovery from natural disasters. Submissions close 30 March 2012.
For more information visit www.awa.asn.au/natopconference

Small Water and Wastewater Systems (SWWS) Conference, 26-28 September 2012, Newcastle
Call for abstracts now open
Two more weeks to submit an abstract for the SWWS conference. This event will provide a forum for learning and knowledge sharing on the re-emerging role of decentralised water systems. Reflecting on recent changes, the conference will focus on how decentralised water and wastewater systems can provide a solution for environmental and economic sustainability. Submissions close 30 March 2012.
For more information visit www.awa.asn.au/SWWSconference

Reporting by Outcomes Workshop, April 2012
Register now to improve your skills in 2012Add valuable training to your resume this year by taking part in the 'Reporting by Outcomes' workshop which will be coordinated by Sustainability Education Skills Australia. Delivered by training provider Clear Horizons, this workshop will provide each participant the option to be assessed by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). The course will be a one-day interactive training session that will arm you with the skills to demonstrate, through a five part structure, how your program or project has contributed to outcomes. This will also be complemented by using a program logic model to tell a story of how investment contributes to long term goals. Workshops will be held in Melbourne April 16, Adelaide April 17, Brisbane April 19 and Sydney April 20.
Cost is $445 members and $495 non members. Assessment by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) is also available.
To register your interest or to find out more information, please email fjohnson@awa.asn.au

Jobs

There are 30 jobs on the H2Oz website, view them here.

Job of the week:

Land Development Officer
Gippsland Water
Melbourne metropolitan, VIC regional

Gippsland Water currently has an opportunity for two Land Development Officers to join the Property Services department at our Head Office in Traralgon.

Closing Date: 26/03/2012

Tenders

Tender PWS NR 1205 Ben Lomond Waste Water Treatment Plant, Parks and Wildlife Service, TAS, closes 28 March 2012.

In The Media

The drought threw light on and de-routinised many of our water practices, but have they regrouped into more sustainable long-term configurations? (Australian Policy Online)

The extent to which the $363 million budget for Canberra's Cotter Dam has been blown will not be known until all ramifications of the flood are known. (Canberra Times)

A field of vivid green algae so large it can be seen from space is floating in waters off Antarctica, causing a feeding frenzy. (ABC)

It will be more than four years before the Sydney desalination plant produces a drop of water again, if the water level at Warragamba Dam declines at the same rate as the last time it topped out in August 1998. (SMH)

A parliamentary committee has recommended Tasmania's water and sewerage corporations be merged within 12 months. (ABC)

Water Minister Tony Burke expects little interest in his strategic water buybacks because of recent torrential rains and flooding in eastern states. (Adelaide Advertiser)

A $600,000 South Australian Government grant will go towards replacing a section of a 26-year-old pipeline supplying water to Coober Pedy.(ABC)

Local opposition groups invariably mean we can't manage to build dams any more. (The Australian)

Two of Australia's leading hydrologists say governments have lost the ability to effectively regulate coal seam gas. (ABC)

Email news has approximately 7,000 subscribers. For news enquiries, please email media@awa.asn.au