Upcoming Events
The River Basin Management Society presents the award winning documentary “Lost Rivers” Screening.
ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY:
Once upon a time, in almost every industrial city, countless rivers flowed. We built houses along their banks. Our roads hugged their curves. And their currents fed our mills and factories. But as cities grew, we polluted rivers so much that they became conduits for deadly waterborne diseases like cholera, which was 19th century’s version of the Black Plague. Our solution two centuries ago was to bury rivers underground and merge them with sewer networks.
Today, under the city, they still flow, out of sight and out of mind… until now. That’s because urban dwellers are on a quest to reconnect with this denigrated natural world. Lost Rivers takes us on an adventure down below and across the globe, retracing the history of these lost urban rivers by plunging into archival maps and going underground with clandestine urban explorers. We search for the disappeared Petite rivière St-Pierre in Montreal, the Garrison Creek in Toronto, the River Tyburn in London, the Saw Mill River in New York, and the Bova-Celato River in Bresica, Italy. Could we see these rivers again? To find the answer, we meet visionary urban thinkers, activists and artists from around the world.
View the trailer here
Don’t miss out – Register Here
On behalf of Stormwater Queensland and the International Erosion Control Association Australasia, we are pleased to announce that registration is now available for the ‘Local Governments Role in Managing Erosion and Sediment Control’ Seminar to be held on Thursday, 14th April, 2016 from 1.30 pm to 5.00 pm at Riverlife Brisbane.
Seminar Focus
The implementation and management of erosion and sediment controls on Queensland urban development construction sites has been historically poor with studies undertaken by Healthy Waterways indicating up to 95% of sites are not compliant. Local governments can play a vital role in the management of erosion and sediment control from the development application process through to regulation on the ground. Although there is improvement by some local governments, in general the approach is very ‘hands off’ resulting in poor site management and water quality outcomes.
In contrast many Council’s in New Zealand including Auckland Regional Council adopt a very different ‘hands on’ approach with no cost to Council. This forum will include a panel session, discussion and a presentation from Michael Parsonson from Southern Skies Environmental who has been involved with erosion and sediment control policy in Auckland. The discussions will provide insight into alternative strategies that could be adopted by local governments to provide a greater level of protection to waterways.
Registrations for this Seminar is now closed.
Seminar Panelists
Michael has over 18 years environmental management experience, gained from geotechnical consultancy, consents and compliance, project management and team management roles at the Auckland Regional Council, and as a director of SouthernSkies Environmental Limited. Michael’s experience covers the assessment and preparation of permits and approvals under regional and district plans, policy and plan development, expert witness services, site auditing, development of best practice guidelines for practitioners, peer reviewing, and construction environmental training. This breadth of experience in regulatory, technical, planning, political interface, team management and programme management roles assists in the delivery of all his projects. Michael is also a certified and experienced independent hearings commissioner.
Leon is an Engineer with 16 years experience in the fields of urban stormwater management, water sensitive urban design, erosion and sediment control and floodplain management. Leon started his own business in 2014 and has provided ESC auditing for major clients including developments by Stockland and LendLease as well as providing policy and auditing advice for Local and State Government. Prior to this Leon ran the ESC compliance program for Sunshine Coast Council and played a key part in the Council achieving the Ministers Grand Prize at the Healthy Waterways Awards in 2009. Leon is an acknowledged expert in the field of integrated water management, having held a position on the Scientific Expert Panel of Healthy Waterways and being an acknowledged contributor to a number of key industry guidelines on the topic.
Kel has been working as an environmental professional for over fifteen years with ten years’ experience in the construction industry. During this time he has been involved on both the Client and Contractor side of the fence on a large number of construction projects ranging from electrical substations to high pressure gas pipelines and large-scale dams. Kel has spent the last 5 years working in the CSG industry primarily as the Corporate Environmental Advisor for Soil and Erosion at one of the major CSG companies. As the start of 2016, Kel started work with Ipswich City Council as their specialist for everything related to erosion and sediment control. The main goal for the role is to improve the level of compliance on construction projects in the area through a combination of education and enforcement.
Terry is a Principal Environmental Engineer with over 13 years direct experience in the area of soil and water management. His professional experience includes ESC, stormwater management, contaminated land, acid sulfate soil investigations, project management and delivery of specialist training. Terry is currently employed as ESC Technical Services Manager for O2 and has previously held roles within both private industry and Local Government. This experience has provided him with a comprehensive understanding of the entire development process from the initial project conception, design and construction phases and subsequent final delivery. Terry has gained a high level appreciation of the challenges, constraints and impacts associated with application, monitoring, training and compliance with ESC requirements for both clients and contractors.
During his time with O2, Terry has specialised in erosion and sediment control, and has been responsible for the planning, design, supervision, auditing and management of ESC aspects on some of Queensland’s largest infrastructure projects. Terry holds the internationally recognized qualifications of Certified Practitioner in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) and Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS). In addition, Terry is a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ).
Terry regularly presents a range of ESC training courses in accordance with IECA (2008) and has trained over 1,000 people in QLD, NSW, NT and TAS. He has been invited by Griffith University to sessional lecture Engineering Design and has previously presented ESC training at Sydney TAFE.
Mr Mark Gibson is an experienced engineer with over 20 years’ experience in local government and private industry. He is a specialist in stormwater quality and quantity management, erosion and sediment control, waterway health enhancement and water policy and planning. Mark has completed a Bachelor of Civil Engineering and a Graduate Diploma in Integrated Water Management. He is a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland and a Member of Engineers Australia and Stormwater Queensland. Mark has most recently been involved in reviewing and updating the Brisbane City Council’s hazard assessments, standards and requirements for Erosion and Sediment Control plans and programs. Mark has worked as a Principal Engineer in with Brisbane City Council for the past four years as well as being the Director of MRG Water Consulting Pty Ltd. Mark has extensive industry knowledge of the design and use of Erosion and Sediment Control measures for residential and industrial construction sites.
Coops Drainage and Civil has been operating in South East Queensland for the past 30 years with projects ranging from problematic drainage solutions to large scale subdivisions and inter-regional infrastructure.
Coops Drainage and Civil has experience in the construction of full subdivision projects, storm water drainage, large pump stations, trunk sewer reticulation and trunk water reticulation projects. This experience includes bulk earthworks, detailed earthworks, road works and pavement, vacuum sewer, recycled water, structural concrete, box culverts, and pipeline testing with NATA Accreditation.
To download a map of Riverlife and suggested transport options, please click below:
If you would like to continue in the discussion on Local Government’s Role in Managing ESC and further explore the reasons behind poor compliance of ESC in urban development in Qld, IECA are hosting drinks and BBQ after the seminar at Riverlife. You will also have the opportunity for further discussions with Michael Parsonson from New Zealand in regards to alternative policy and regulation strategies. To register your attendance at this event, please click on the following link http://www.austieca.com.au/events/event/lets-talk-dirt
If you have any questions relating to this Seminar, please do not hesitate to contact Lilly Barker at GEMS Event Management on +61 2 9744 5252 or via email lbarker@gemspl.com.au.
Stormwater Queensland in conjunction with Stormwater Australia are hosting an update session on the New National Protocol for the Evaluation of Stormwater Quality Improvement Devices will be held at The Greek Club from 1.30 pm to 3.00 pm on Tuesday, 21st June.
Background
There are statewide provisions for stormwater quality management in the State Planning Policy, and many local governments also have stormwater quality provisions within their planning scheme.
Over the past several years there has been concern over the lack of a clear framework to verify the performance claims for proprietary stormwater products, also known as stormwater quality improvement devices (SQID). This has become a point of tension in the development assessment process.
Over the past two years Stormwater Australia has been developing a Stormwater Quality Improvement Devices Evaluation Protocol (SQIDEP). The protocol developed this far has a particular focus on providing guidance on field testing requirements, collection, analysis and presentation of data, and ensuring the process is both technically competent and sufficiently independent to support confidence in the outcomes.
The draft SQIDEP can be downloaded by clicking the link below or alternatively please cut and past the following link into your web browser:
Stormwater Queensland in conjunction with Stormwater Australia will be hosting a public event providing an update on the SQID Protocol, This event will comprise of a general information session and open to a broad cross section of stakeholders and interest groups including manufacturers and vendors of products. Local government officers, consultants and other relevant stakeholders are also invited to attend in order to understand the basics of the protocol. This event will be held from 1.30 pm until 3.00 pm on the afternoon of Tuesday, 21st June, 2016.
Cost:
Free Registration is provided to members of Stormwater Queensland Members. Registration for non members is $65 per person.
To register your place for the SQID Update Session, click on the button below, which will take you to the online registration form.
Online registration will close on Friday, 17th June
Should you have any questions regarding registration, please email registration@gemspl.com.au.
If you would like to know more about the SQID Update Session, please contact Stormwater Queensland on 1300 721 220.
Following the success of our inaugural 2015 Winter School, Stormwater Queensland is proud to be hosting our second Winter School, providing ongoing professional development opportunities for the industry.
This year’s Winter School will include a Full Day Technical Tour, showcasing several innovative ‘real world’ projects within Ipswich City. By popular demand, Grant Witheridge will also present an Advanced Erosion and Sediment Control Workshop.
This year’s Winter School will coincide with our Stormwater Queensland Awards for Excellence (held on Thursday, 7th at Dockside) to assist with industry professionals travelling from across the state.
This Winter School is targeted at staff from all areas of the stormwater industry including civil engineers, environmental engineers, hydrological and hydraulic engineers, urban designers, urban planners and local government officers.
To register for the Technical tour, Workshop or both, click on the below button, which will take you to the Online Registration Form.
WEEK AT A GLANCE
Tuesday, 5th July
Technical Tour of Ipswich – Includes a fish passage project, flood mitigation works , and multi-functional stormwater projects.
Presenters –Adam Berry, and Paul Smith Ipswich Council, Paul Dubowski, BMT WBM and David Sexton, Engeny
Wednesday, 6th July
Workshop – Advanced Erosion and Sediment Control Training
Presenter: Grant Witheridge, Catchments and Creeks Pty Ltd
Thursday, 7th July
2016 Stormwater Queensland Awards Presentation Luncheon
To find out more about the Stormwater Queensland Awards Presentation Luncheon, please click here
TECHNICAL TOUR – 5th July
The Technical Tour will be a fantastic opportunity to experience first-hand, a very broad range of catchment management projects and to hear about the challenges and solutions related to each project.This tour will also provide participants with the chance to learn directly from the practitioners involved in bringing the projects to fruition, with plenty of opportunities for questions, debate and discussion.Sites to be featured on this Technical Tour include:
- Redbank Plains Recreational Reserve Integrated Urban Stormwater Project: This recently constructed project includes a flood detention basin (providing 90 000m3 of flood storage) and stormwater harvesting wetland
- Berry’s Weir Fish Passage: Currently being constructed (with completion expected before the tour) to provide fish passage through this identified high priority barrier on the Bremer River.
- Jim Donald Parklands Multi-functional Stormwater Project: Currently being constructed (with completion expected before the tour), this project will comprise a multi-functional asset that provides flood mitigation, stormwater quality improvement, stormwater harvesting, new irrigated sports fields and open space integration within the surrounding area.
- Thagoona Flood Mitigation Works: Developed in response to devastating floods in 2008 and 2011 and subsequent detailed planning, works including a large earthen levee, drainage channel, culverts and an upgraded rail bridge to the south of the area.
ADVANCED EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL WORKSHOP – 6th July
Presented by Grant Witheridge, this workshop will include two elements:
- Development of Erosion and Sediment Control Plans: Focusing on the preparation of ESC’s for various construction sites.
- Sizing Drainage and Sediment Control Measures: Discussing the hydraulic design (sizing) of various drainage and sediment control measures, including detailed discussion on sediment basin design.
The Workshop will include a workbook, practical work activities and catering for morning tea and lunch.
LOCATION AND TIMES
Tuesday, 5th July and Wednesday, 6th July 2016 (9.00 am – 5.00 pm)
The Landing at Dockside – 44 Ferry Street, Kangaroo Point, 4169
REGISTRATION FEES
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If you would like to register for this event, please contact Lilly Barker on +61 2 9744 5252 or via email lbarker@gemspl.com.au
Stormwater Queensland are pleased to present the 2016 Awards for Excellence Presentation Luncheon.
The award categories for the 2016 Awards for Excellence are:
- Excellence in Strategic or Master Planning
- Excellence in Infrastructure
- Excellence in Asset Management
- Excellence in Research and Innovation
- Excellence in Policy or Education
- Excellence in Integrated Stormwater Design
If you would like to register for this event, please contact Lilly Barker on +61 2 9744 5252 or via email lbarker@gemspl.com.au.
National Awards for Excellence
Under the Awards for Excellence protocol adopted by Stormwater Australia, only the recipients of the State Awards for Excellence will be eligible for the National Excellence Awards. Preceding two years of State award winners (2015 and 2016) will be eligible for the National Awards in 2016. Therefore, entry of a project into a State Excellence Awards is a minimum prerequisite for participation in the National Awards.
The National Awards is held every two years. The next National Awards will be announced at the Stormwater National 2016 Conference in Brisbane, Queensland on Wednesday, 31st August, 2016.
Should you have any questions about the 2016 Stormwater Queensland Awards for Excellence, please contact Event Coordinator, Lilly Barker on +61 2 9744 5252 or via email to lbarker@gemspl.com.au.
Stormwater Australia invites you to attend STORMWATER 2016, the 4th National Conference convened by Stormwater Australia, to be held from Monday, 29th August to Friday, 2nd September, 2016 in Surfers Paradise, Queensland.
In 2009, the United Nations reported that more than half the world’s population lived in urban centres. This proportion is set to increase to 66% by 2050, when it is estimated that city dwellers will live and share their neighbourhoods with an additional 2.5 billion people.
As our cities grow and evolve, it is imperative that we manage our resource and our natural resources to ensure they continue to provide clean, healthy environments for ourselves and the next generation. Access to adequate supplies of safe and fit-for-purpose water will be increasingly important to meet the needs of a growing population, while the responsible management of runoff from both increasing sprawl and density in existing urban areas will be needed to increase our resilience to natural disasters such as flood and heat waves, and to avoid further environmental and social degradation.
The modern stormwater industry seeks to balance traditional issues with emerging priorities which are being placed on our infrastructure. Practitioners are experienced in working at the coal face, often pragmatically dealing with issues in a complex environment where policy requirements are often unclear, but the demand for good outcomes and multiple benefits are not. The growing need to work in multidisciplinary teams, to lead and influence, to understand and assimilate different points of view and technical requirements, will be core skills required in the future.
Challenge and change brings opportunity. Fiscal constraints are an ever present reality. New and emerging technologies are developed to provide technical solutions. Increasingly we are seeing new business models that empower greater choice. Increasingly we are looking to solve nexus issues around water, energy and food. In an increasingly connected world, information has a new currency to support decision making and engagement with community. As economies around the world transition to make better use of all this knowledge, there is potential to develop new markets and trade opportunities.
The ‘Rising to the Challenge’ Conference will reach out beyond our core industry practitioners to engage with a broader group of committed and talented people who will all need to work together to develop the solutions of the future. Stormwater Australia invites you and your colleagues from all disciplines and experiences to participate in what we anticipate to be an exciting and engaging Conference that builds upon earlier successes, inspires participants and provide opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing.
For all enquiries and registrations please visit – www.stormwater2016.com.au
Managing Long Life, Hidden Assets
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Developed to assist asset management practitioners apply best practice in accordance with PN5 and ISO 55000 AM Standards for inspection, condition and performance assessment for stormwater drainage assets. |
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Participants will be able to develop an action pipeline for how they can best progress their organization along the path to meeting the objectives of PN5 |
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Explore the practicalities of how to prepare and undertake a stormwater drainage network condition survey including sampling of the network and specifying the services of external providers. |
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Learn about using the WSAA Conduit Inspection Code Appendix D for SWD |
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Learn about using the AUS-SPEC Tools and resources for SWD asset management |
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Opportunity to network and share your experiences. |
Objectives
- Understand the use of the new PN5 to improve SWD asset management practice taking into account ISO 55000 requirements.
- Be able to follow a consistent approach to SWD survey and condition assessment
- Have the tools to scope and plan a condition assessment project to achieve application of PN5 good practice
- Learn about the latest trends for identifying and scoring of defects in SWD assets.
Outcomes
These Workshops will give you the knowledge and skills to;
- Develop your own action pipeline to guide the journey for applying PN5 for your SWD assets
- Confidently update your SWD asset register and break it into its components
- Develop reports on the overall condition grading of the SWD network
- Produce risk based Action plans – maintenance and renewals derived from the condition analysis
- Have better information on which to analyse and report on valuations, depreciation and financial planning for the SWD system.
Who should attend
- Stormwater drainage asset practitioners,
- Engineers
- Asset Managers
- Technical Officers
- Field staff involved in inspection and condition assessment and asset management of SWD Assets
- Applicable to local government, public works or other organisations (public or private)
Presenters
- Alf Grigg | Principal A Grigg & Associates P/L
- Peter Way | Chair NAMS.AU, IPWEA Peter is project manager and principal author of the SWD Practice Note 5.
- Kirk Bloomfield | Manager GSDS
- John Thomson l Geospatial Integrated Services
* Presenter/s will vary between locations.
For more information and details of a workshop in your area, head over to the IPEWA website by clicking HERE
Get the your own copy of the latest Practice Note HERE
The Report Card provides an annual assessment of the pressures facing our waterways, their current environmental condition (A-F grade), and the level of social and economic benefit the waterways provide to local communities (1-5 star rating).
As their organisation transitions into the new entity Healthy Waterways and Catchments, they have leveraged the combined skills and resources of Healthy Waterways and SEQ Catchments to further build upon their holistic monitoring and reporting approach. This includes working with the Council of Mayors to assess the risks to environmental values in each sub catchment. A component of this assessment will be released through the 2016 Report Card, identifying the sub catchments in most need of action to reduce sediment pollution.
To release the results, four launch events will be held simultaneously across South East Queensland.
Central Launch
Host: Healthy Waterways and Catchments
Venue: Riverlife Centre – Naval Stores, Lower River Terrace, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane
Northern Launch
Host: Unitywater
Venue: Mooloolaba Yacht Club, 33-45 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba QLD 4557
Western Launch
Host: Somerset Regional Council
Venue: Kilcoy Information Centre, 41 Hope St, next to Yowie Park, Kilcoy, QLD 4515
Southern Launch
Host: Scenic Rim Regional Council
Venue: Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, 333 Geissmann Dr, Mt Tamborine QLD 4272
For more information and/or to register your attendance, head over to http://healthywaterways.org/eventscalendar . You don’t want to miss this one!
River Basin Management Society invite you to attend:
A Discussion on the 2016 Healthy Waterways and Catchments Report Card
“Please join us for a conversation with Dr Emily Saeck, Senior Scientist with Health Waterways and Catchments, to discuss the results of the 2016 Report Card. The Report Card provides an annual assessment of the pressures facing our waterways, their current environmental condition (A-F grade), and the level of social and economic benefit the waterways provide to local communities (1-5 star rating). This is the second year of the newly evolved Report Card, which provides a deeper understanding of the current pressures, benefits we receive, and importantly what needs to be done to protect and improve our waterways.
Please visit the Healthy Waterways and Catchments website to view the Report Card results after the launch on 16 November: http://healthywaterways.org/report-card”
To Register your attendance – click here
Sponsored by;
Time: 8.30am for a 9.00am start and finishing with lunch from 12.30pm
The commencement of the new Planning Act in mid-2017 has been a driver for the Department of Infrastructure, Local Government & Planning (DILGP) to review how State interests are expressed in the planning system. In November 2016, DILGP released consultation drafts of theState Planning Policy (SPP), the State Development Assessment Provisions and the Planning Regulation. These drafts can be downloaded from this website. The draft SPP includes some important changes to the State interest – water quality.
The changes associated with the policy are likely to have some noteworthy implications for urban development, communities and the environment.
Stormwater Queensland is hosting a forum to assist in understanding how the Draft SPP proposes to change regulatory requirements for stormwater quality management.
The event is recommended for those involved in urban stormwater planning, policy or development. Submissions on the draft SPP close 10 February 2017 so the Forum is also recommended for any person or organisation considering making a submission on the water quality aspects of the policy.
An expert panel from a broad cross section of the industry has been convened for this event to provide different perspectives on the policy. The panel will include a range of speakers including:
