Read about the latest news, events and research from VicWater, and your colleagues around the Victorian water sector.
VicWater Update July 2024
This month on 7-14 July we celebrate NAIDOC Week and this year’s theme is ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud’. According to the National NAIDOC Committee, the theme “honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples”.
Although we didn’t know this would be the NAIDOC theme when we started planning our Annual Conference earlier this year, as it happens our day two keynote speaker Victor Steffensen is an expert in Aboriginal fire management. A descendant of the Tagalaka people from the Gulf Country of North Queensland, Victor is the co-founder of Firesticks, which works with communities across Australia to lead Indigenous land management projects. He has published a best-selling book ‘Fire Country’, as well as a children’s book ‘Looking After Country with Fire’, and also published songs ‘Cool Burning’ and ‘Great Land’ through his music label Mulong.
We’re thrilled to have Victor as a featured speaker at our Annual Conference in September, to provide his perspective on our theme ‘Environmental Stewardship: Caring for Country and advancing sustainability in the Victorian water sector’. Victor’s presentation will be followed by a panel session ‘Traditional Owner Water Governance: Walking and Talking Together’ with speakers from the Birrarung Council and the Victorian Environmental Water Holder, who will share what they are doing to walk together with Traditional Owners towards self-determination and restorative justice in the water sector.
The VicWater team have been working hard to make sure our Annual Conference program is relevant, engaging and topical. In line with the broad environmental theme, we’re including sessions on climate adaptation, advancements in PFAS removal, managing environmental duties and risks, corporate sustainability, and the economic impacts of increasing extreme weather events. And of course we always make sure to include plenty of networking opportunities in the breaks, at the welcome drinks and conference dinner. Registrations are now open – see item below.
On 18 June we publicly released the Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Carbon Offsets Project. The EOI is being facilitated by Melbourne Water through its Zycus system to ensure that relevant probity and integrity requirements are met. An on-line market briefing was held on 25 June and was attended by approximately 30 people. The EOI will be open for six weeks and is due to close on 30 July.
The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) working group has had its first meeting and is working through the draft Term Sheet for the proposed SPV. Finalisation of the draft Term Sheet/Member’s Agreement is planned to coincide with completion of the review and assessment of the EOI.
Last week saw the inaugural joint Safety Executive Group and OHS Network Committee meeting. It was great to bring these two key groups together to agree on some alignment to really enhance leadership and culture across the sector. The conversation around the table was energetic, and where we spent 2023/24 setting up our plans to support making the safety and wellbeing commitment a part of the sector, 2024/25 looks to really build on those foundations to drive some action.
Dr. Katrina Wruck will present a high-level, digestible literature review on the latest advancements in PFAS removal and destruction from water and biosolids on day 1 of the conference program.
Her presentation will explore methods, comparing the current state to future advancements, and provide government and industry professionals with insights on enhancing environmental stewardship and sustainability in the Victorian water sector.
Dr Katrina Wruck is an early career Research Fellow in the School of Chemistry and Physics at Queensland University of Technology and a proud Mabuigilaig/Goemulgal (Torres Strait Islander) woman.
Katrina is dedicated to finding innovative, green solutions for industrial and environmental challenges, focusing on emerging contaminants of concern in the environment.
IWN Conference: Taking place this month on 29th July!
The IWN Members Conference is less than a month away. Registrations are filling fast – with over 130 delegates registered, so please register ASAP if you are intending to come.
The July Plenary Session will feature a presentation on Building Resilience: Climate Adaptation Strategies for a Sustainable Water Future, presented by strategies for the water industry, with Michael Storey, Managing Director, Isle Utilities, Asia-Pacific.
WaterAid Australia’s annual Walk for Water fundraiser will be taking place once again this October. Join teams from all around the country raising funds and awareness for WaterAid’s vital work.
Ask your work mates and friends to sponsor you as you walk, run or ride for five days between 14-18 October, and you’ll be helping people around the world access clean water close to home, in their schools, and at their healthcare facilities.
IP stands for ‘income protection’. Like the name suggests, if you can’t work due to illness or injury, IP cover helps to replace your lost income. After 60 days of being off work, your IP cover may kick in and cover you for up to two years[1].
Around 10 million Australians have insurance through their super[2], and if you’re a Super Saver member with Vision Super, you may be one of them.[3] If you’re working full time or part time, our default insurance cover includes death cover (also called life insurance), total and permanent disability (TPD) cover and IP. In this article, we cover some of the questions members typically have about their IP cover.
Under the partnership agreement, Wannon Water will trade 3,000 Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCU) to Southern Rural Water in the period from 2024/25 to 2029/30.
Wannon Water currently holds Australian Carbon Credit Units generated through its carbon reforestation project and has agreed to assist Southern Rural Water in achieving its 2025 goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions under the terms of the agreement.
Women in engineering lead the way at Melbourne Water
Caption: Dr Lindsay Studer, Melbourne Water employee and chemical engineer
For International Women in Engineering Day on Sunday, 23 June, Melbourne Water showcases three women engineers making significant contributions to their industry.
“An engineer is interested in a process and how to make it work,” says Catherine Rees, a manager at Melbourne Water who works on wastewater treatment and marine research.
Yarra Valley Water launches one of Australia’s first recycled water offset programs
Caption: YVW Aurora Recycled Water Facility
Yarra Valley Water is partnering with major infrastructure delivery organisations to reduce the impact of using drinking water in construction through a new water offset program. A pilot is underway with a level crossing removal project in Melbourne’s east.
Water is essential to the delivery of major infrastructure projects. Yarra Valley Water’s Recycled Water Community Assets Program is providing an offset scheme for major projects that do not have access to recycled water during construction.
Barwon Water commits more than $350,000 to Moorabool catchment restoration program
Caption: Moorabool Catchment Landcare Group President Andrew Wells, Coordinator Jackson Cass, and Barwon Water Catchments and Waterways Team Leader Brigid Creasey and General Manager Planning Delivery and Environment Seamus Butcher on the banks of the Moorabool River.
Barwon Water has committed $353,600 to support the Moorabool Catchment Restoration Program (MCRP), a collaborative initiative aimed at enhancing water quality and riverside vegetation within the Moorabool River catchment.
The program is a partnership between Barwon Water, the Moorabool Catchment Landcare Group, private landholders, and community stakeholders, focused on creating a sustainable future for the region.
South East Water is proud to announce the recipients of its annual Community Grants program, with $140,000 awarded to 22 community groups across Melbourne’s south-east.
Minister for Water, Harriet Shing joined South East Water to announce the successful grant recipients, including the Rotary Club of Cranbourne who’ll use their funding to deliver the Water Wise Wallies project, in partnership with Cranbourne West Primary School.
Major upgrade completed to secure inner-city water supply
Works to replace a 146-year-old water main to help future-proof water supply for Carlton, North Melbourne and Melbourne CBD have been completed.
Greater Western Water (GWW) installed the 3.5km water main along Victoria Street, from North Melbourne to Carlton, as well as parts of Rathdowne Street and Howard Street.
Stratford water tower to celebrate Gunaikurnai artwork
Caption: An artist’s impression of what the Stratford water tower artwork could look like.
Gippsland Water has collaborated with local Gunnai artist Alice Pepper to turn the Stratford water tower into a colourful celebration of First Nations connection to water.
The organisation commissioned Alice to create the artwork titled Cultural Flow. It represents Gippsland Water working with Traditional Owners to ensure the waterways are cared for, preserved and protected for future generations.
Do you have a water sector event you'd like to promote? Maybe an announcement you'd like us to share on behalf of your organisation? VicWater Update has opened the news and events section of the monthly update to promote visibility of things that are happening within the water sector.
If you'd like something included email Lauren Vines with your request for consideration in our next edition.
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