Stormwater Queensland provides a voice for its members on key stormwater issues and has been active in its support for the development and implementation of a national stormwater quality improvement device protocol and an independent evaluation process for devices tested using such a protocol.
Read our submissions and updates below.
SQIDEP Update August 2021
Stormwater Queensland Submission to Brisbane City Council on the ‘Proposed Citywide Amendment – Planning Scheme Policy – Amendment Package N’ regarding SQIDEP
Brisbane City Council (BCC) has recently released a ‘Proposed Citywide Amendment – Planning Scheme Policy – Amendment Package N’ which proposes the adoption of the Stormwater Quality Improvement Device Evaluation Protocol (SQIDEP) into its planning scheme. Given the limitations with SQIDEP, including the ability for selective monitoring practices and misleading water quality performance data, Stormwater Queensland has issued a submission to BCC on the proposed amendment package. This submission discourages BCC from adopting SQIDEP until a revised version of SQIDEP is released which provides greater certainty and more robust scientific practice (as documented in SQ’s previous SQIDEP submissions). A copy of SQ’s response is now available here.
Stormwater Queensland Issues Response to Stormwater Australia on SQIDEP
On 12 March 2020 Stormwater Queensland (SQ) issued a submission to Stormwater Australia on the Stormwater Quality Improvement Device Evaluation Protocol (SQIDEP). We recently received a partial response to that submission and have responded accordingly. A copy of SQ’s response is now available here.
SQIDEP Update May 2021
Progress on SQIDEP?
Stormwater Queensland continues to follow up on its submission (dated 12 March 2020) to Stormwater Australia on the Stormwater Quality Improvement Device Protocol (SQIDEP) Version 1.3. An overview and more detailed breakdown of what’s been happening in this space is available for your download here.
SQIDEP Update December 2020
SQIDEP Update Overview
Stormwater Queensland (SQ) is currently following up on its submission to Stormwater Australia (SNat) on the Stormwater Quality Improvement Device Protocol (SQIDEP) Version 1.3, via two avenues:
- SQIDEP Technical Review Panel (TRP) / Governance Panel (GP); and
- SQIDEP Enhancement Group (EG). A group with commonly shared concerns.
Further information can be found in the latest update note.
SQIDEP Update June 2020
A Way Forward for SQIDEP?
You may have seen in recent editions of Stormcast, that both Stormwater Queensland and Stormwater NSW issued comprehensive submissions to Stormwater Australia, on behalf of our members, regarding the Stormwater Quality Improvement Device Evaluation Protocol (SQIDEP) (QLD submission, NSW Submission). The aim of these submissions was not to develop a perfect protocol but rather, to ensure it meets minimum standards which will provide confidence that SQIDEP verifications are based upon rigorous science, including the sound testing of ‘devices’ and decision are guided by clear, transparent and independent governance. Of course not every point in our submissions needs to be addressed in order to meet this aim, however, the majority of points will be critical.
While it is disappointing to see Stormwater Australia press ahead at this stage with verification under the current protocol and without published advice on what such verifications would be worth under a future, robust protocol, we are equally encouraged to see a significant section of the industry sharing our views. Recently, we attended a meeting with other major industry groups including some of the country’s biggest regulators to discuss many of our shared views and plan a way forward for SQIDEP.
We agreed that we all want a working protocol which we can defend in the future. Apart from Stormwater Queensland and Stormwater NSW, the group also included Stormwater Victoria, Healthy Land and Water, Melbourne Water, WaterNSW and a major local council. Other local regulators also expressing interest but could not attend. Collectively, this group asked our facilitator to write to Stormwater Australia and request a meeting with the Stormwater Australia Board to discuss next steps. We will keep you posted on progress in future versions of Stormcast.
SQIDEP Submission March 2020
Stormwater Queensland Submission On The Stormwater Quality Improvement Device Evaluation protocol
Stormwater Queensland (SQ) strongly supports the need for the development and implementation of a national stormwater quality improvement device protocol and an independent evaluation process for devices tested using such a protocol. These are much needed and long overdue pieces of reform which can bring numerous benefits to the industry including greater transparency, credibility, certainty, equity and probity. We applaud Stormwater National’s (SNat’s) initiative and efforts in developing the Stormwater Quality Improvement Device Protocol (SQIDEP) Version 1.3.
SQ welcomes the opportunity to provide SNat with a submission on the SQIDEP Version 1.3. Significant effort has gone into the development of SQIDEP over several years and this is acknowledged by SQ. SQ is grateful to all those involved in the development of SQIDEP to date.
SQ recently surveyed its members requesting feedback on SQIDEP and this submission includes, but is not limited to, key messages which have arisen from member’s survey responses. The submission has been structured according to the following sections:
- SQIDEP administrative matters
- SQIDEP scientific/technical matters
- SQs view on SQIDEP
