Read about the latest news, events and research from VicWater, and your colleagues around the Victorian water sector.
VicWater Update August 2024
At VicWater we like to say that collaboration lies at the heart of everything we do. We saw this credo in action last week at the IWN Members Conference, which had as its theme ‘Collaborative Transformation’. Around 100 delegates joined us at RMIT’s Storey Hall to explore how the Victorian water sector can leverage our already strong collaborative culture to drive the transformation we will need to meet our future challenges.
Keynote speakers Harry Seah, Deputy Chief Executive at PUB Singapore and Mark Williams, Managing Director at Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water, shared their insights from the transformation journeys of their respective organisations. The key takeaway from both was that transformation is an iterative process of continuous improvement and problem solving, and it can take months or years to embed, but when it’s done well, the benefits for the business, customers and community are substantial.
A personal highlight for me was joining my fellow IWN Executive Group members for a panel session moderated by our very own chief optimist and IWN cheerleader Victor Perton, who brought his infectious energy to our discussion about what makes for successful collaboration. We talked about the basics of good governance, being clear on purpose, playing to individual strengths, knowing when to lead and when to follow, and encouraging our people to be bold and ambitious.
But the day really belonged to the IWN champions, program managers and working group members who presented on the wide range of technology trials, projects and activities that are being run across 12 program streams. It was fantastic to see this diverse group of people talking about the things that really inspire and excite them about their work, all of them (in the words of IWN Program Director Jason Cotton) “paid up and passionate” about IWN’s vision and purpose to be a catalyst for the transformation of the water industry.
Finally, while it was unfortunate that the Hon Harriet Shing, Minister for Water was unable to join us on the day to announce the news herself, the IWN conference marked the opening of the second round of the Water Minister’s Climate Innovation Challenge. Following the outstanding success of the first round in 2023, the Minister has increased this year’s prize pool to $255,000. The Challenge is open to all Victorian water corporations, and I strongly encourage our members to consider making a submission. See item below for more information.
The Carbon Offsets Project Expression of Interest closed on 30 July. A total of 18 responses were received, which is a great result. Those responses are now being checked for compliance with the mandatory response criteria. Those responses that are compliant will then be evaluated to determine what opportunities they present for the water sector procure ACCUs.
The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) working group held two meetings during July and have finalised their comments on the draft Term Sheet for the proposed SPV.
The great problem with running a cyber exercise is the amount of information and data that comes out of it. The CGSC are working through these and prioritising which to progress first.
Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee (DISC) and Practitioners networks
The DISC are developing a maturity model that will allow water corporations to self-assess their Equity, Diversity and Inclusion maturity and use data to shift the dial on E, D and I practices across the sector.
Take a look at some of our program highlights that will feature at the Annual Conference this September.
Corporate Sustainability Panel: Technical realism and organisational change
Facilitator:
Tai Hollingsbee
Head of Sustainability
Asia Pacific, GHD
Panellist:
Jo Murdoch
Managing Director
North East Water
Panellist:
Nerina Di Lorenzo
Managing Director
Melbourne Water
In this session we will explore GHD’s experience working with global brands like Apple and McDonald’s, on their sustainability transformation journey. We will compare this with work that the Victorian water sector is undertaking now, and the role of leadership in driving this change, to benefit our communities. We will ask: How can small changes have a meaningful impact and broader benefits to the customer?
The long term economic impact of increasing extreme weather on the Victorian economy
Climate change is expected to see a drying trend across south-eastern Australia, punctuated by episodes of extreme rainfall as La Nina and El Nino events become more common. This poses a challenge for Victoria’s agriculture sector, across both dryland and irrigated operations, livestock and cropping. It will also challenge Victoria’s water supplies. This presentation considers some of the risks as well as possible opportunities for investment.
Phin Zeibell
Head of Research, TCV
Three Years In: Key Lessons for Water Authorities on achieving environmental compliance – case study on environmental duties and managing environmental risks
Maria Marshall, Partner,
Planning and Environment, Public Law, Maddocks
Three years after its commencement, this session will briefly recap on the environmental duties under the Environment Protection Act 2017, including director obligations and the way they have been applied in Victoria and in NSW. The focus of the session will be a case study based on the Sydney Water v EPA scenario and some Victorian examples as well.
For further information on our conference program, venue, accommodation and registration, please click the button below.
At the IWN Conference last week, we were delighted to launch the 2024 Water Minister’s Climate Innovation Challenge on behalf of Hon Harriet Shing MP, Minister for Water.
We’re looking for projects that improve climate resilience through reducing the effects of climate change or finding new ways and opportunities to respond to these impacts, whether by reducing carbon emissions, improving water conservation practices, reducing waste, or any other approach that mitigates climate change impacts.
In a first for the Victorian Water Industry, IWN will be conducting a Data and Analytics Hackathon with the problem statement – “How might we use data and analytics to better care for our environment”.
The Hackathon consists of teams of water corporation employees working to create better ways of caring for our environment by analysing deidentified data generated from IWN environmental trials using the EcoDetection technology at Greater Western Water and Coliban Water.
The Hackathon is hosted by Melbourne Water at 990 LaTrobe St Docklands – IWN is grateful for that support.
Applications for the 2025 Peter Cullen Trust Leadership Program are now open
The Peter Cullen Trust Leadership Program is a unique and transformative program fostering courageous leaders who will tackle big challenges in water and environment. Applications are invited from mid-career and senior professionals who are actively involved in water and environmental science, systems, policy, advocacy or management.
Applications close on 17 November 2024.
The Trust will host an online information session on Tuesday 20 August, 1.00-2.00pm AEST. Register HERE.
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.
The ATO recently announced they will no longer send any hyperlinks in SMS communications to taxpayers, to help prevent people falling for phishing scams. This highlights the critical role of cybersecurity in combating phishing attacks, which often use unsolicited emails, SMS, and phone calls to trick people into giving out personal or financial information. By eliminating hyperlinks in SMS messages, the ATO aims to reduce the likelihood of people falling victim to malicious links leading to fake websites or malware downloads.
’Smishing’ (SMS phishing) is an attempt by cybercriminals to lure people into disclosing sensitive information or downloading malware onto their devices via text messages. They impersonate trusted entities or organisations like the ATO to deceive you into clicking on malicious links.
Caption: Physical barriers are in place to remove pollutants from water (photo credit: Melbourne Water)
Melbourne Water handles six Olympic swimming pools of contaminated water from chemical fire
The fallout from the Derrimut chemical fire continues as Melbourne Water has received and continues treating 12 million litres of contaminated firewater at its Western Treatment Plant (WTP): the equivalent of six Olympic swimming pools.
“The chemical fire may be old news, but treating the contaminated firewater will take a month,” said Kris Coventry, Head of Western Treatment Plant, Melbourne Water.
Caption: Gippsland Water staff member Katrina and Summer Internship student Fintan
Gippsland Water invests in Gippsland’s future
Gippsland Water is helping students kick start their careers locally with its annual Summer Internship Program.
Applications are now open for the initiative, which is one of the largest in Gippsland and provides students with the opportunity to gain practical experience with a major local employer.
The program runs for 12 weeks during the summer university break and helps undergraduate students expand their skills while undertaking a paid internship.
Choose Tap’s Refiller program celebrates 250th cafe milestone
Yarra Valley Water is encouraging cafes to join the Refiller movement, offering free tap water refills to thirsty Melburnians – and do their bit to help reduce plastic waste.
Mocha Jo’s cafe in Glen Waverley has joined the Choose Tap’s Refiller campaign, marking a milestone as the 250th cafe to join the movement.
The cafe proudly displays the blue ‘Refillers Welcome’ sticker in their window, letting people know they can pop in and fill up their water bottle or grab a glass of water for free.
Barwon Water welcomes funding for the Oxygen for Wastewater Project
Barwon Water welcomed $3 million funding announcement on 18 July from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to support an innovative project to use pure oxygen to make wastewater treatment more efficient.
The oxygen will come as a by-product of hydrogen production at the new hydrogen refuelling station at the Viva Energy Hub in Corio. The hydrogen will be produced by using recycled water supplied from Barwon Water’s Northern Water Plant, and renewable electricity.
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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