April Policy Update

Cost of compliance project

Since the last update, a data collection template has been prepared and supplied to participating water corporations.  The completed templates are due to be submitted to the consultants by COB Friday 1 April 2022.

In addition to the templates, four specific case studies are also being prepared, which will complement the collected compliance cost data.

Practical guidance documents to support the implementation of EPA revised guideline for water recycling

Since the last update, a specific meeting was held with staff from EPA to ensure that the guidance documents that are produced align with EPA’s permissioning requirements under the state’s revised environment protection act.  This alignment will help ensure that EPA receives the information that they need to assess an application for a recycled water scheme, and that water corporations submit all the information that EPA requires to make an assessment.

Beyond that, the workshop timetable is planned to follow the schedule listed below and placeholder invites will be sent shortly to member representatives:

• Workshop on draft Health and Environment Management Plan (HEMP) guidance document – early April 2022
• Workshop on draft User Site Management Plan (USMP) guidance document – early May 2022
• Workshop on draft auditing guidance document – early June 2022

VicWater ‘Puddle’ Model Financial Statements

VicWater continues to work with KPMG to generate model financial statements for 2022.  The consultants have met with the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office and received feedback on minor refinements to the draft model statements.  An updated version of the statements has been resubmitted to Auditor-General’s Office for one last check prior to finalisation.  As soon as the AGO gives their final sign off, the model financial statements will be circulated to member representatives, hopefully in early April 2022.

Victoria’s Professional Engineers Registration Scheme

On Monday 28 March, 2022, VicWater hosted a presentation by representatives from Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) and the Building Licencing Authority (BLA) on Victoria’s Professional Engineers Registration Scheme.  Around 100 water corporation staff were online for the presentation.  Details of the registration scheme can be found here: Professional engineers - Consumer Affairs Victoria.   For those who were unable to attend the session, a copy of the slides and/or a recording of the session can be supplied by sending a request to david.sheehan@vicwater.org.au