After three consecutive years of La Niña, it has certainly put a spotlight on those in the water sector towards the end of 2022 with widespread flooding in Northern Victoria. Here’s a shoutout to all emergency services personal, first responders, and water sector colleagues involved in ensuring safe drinking water supply and sewerage services (as much as is humanly possible) and for mitigating the impacts of flood waters to the best of their ability which is especially relevant as flooding recovery costs are often significantly higher than bushfires.
But on a more optimistic note, the start of 2023 also heralds a fresh start for new changes to showcase best practice in the water sector such as with new articles stating “Why we should shatter Melbourne’s concrete creeks” (The Age, 8 February 2023) of which we’ll hopefully see a reborn Moonee Moonee Chain of Ponds (now known as Moonee Ponds Creek). 2023 is also a busy year as it marks the end of the economic regulatory period for 14 out of Victoria’s 18 water corporations with the Essential Services Commission conducting a price review and price determinations for the next regulatory period commencing from 1 July 2023 which will also provide certainty for the sector especially in regard to investment. Read more here.
And now bringing it a close to AWA matters, we have just launched our first event of the year with the Victorian Young Water Professionals Mentoring Program having their initial meetup on 24 February 2023. For those keen young water professionals out there, do keep your eyes open for our future events with an International Showcase event under development, YWP Tree Planting Day coming up in May, and the annual YWP Ball in June and Regional Study Tour in September. As always, if any of our members have ideas or suggestions, do feel free to reach us via vicbranch@awa.asn.au.
Christopher Lee – Chair – AWA Victorian Young Water Professionals Sub-Committee
by Christopher Lee
