Upcoming Events
Topic: Let’s stop putting stormwater detention in stupid places
Presenters: Dr Rodney Ronalds – Friends Civil Engineering
Date: Thursday 29 October 2020
Time: 1pm – 1:45pm
Description: Stormwater detention is commonly mandated by local Council’s for all new development sites, regardless of their location in the regional catchment. It is also common for engineers to specify stormwater detention using an isolated assessment of peak runoff at the lawful point of discharge of a site only, without considering the surrounding catchments and watercourses.
The first part of this webinar will cover recent research that conclusively shows that detention in the lower parts of regional catchments (where all of our cities are) can cause increased regional runoff and flood probability. Equations will be presented that can be used to calculate the increase/decrease in regional peak runoff that results from urbanisation with/without OSD at varying locations in the regional catchment. The equations are simple and easy to use, with basic inputs requiring a few measurements of catchment areas and stream lengths.
The second part of this presentation will look at some significant rainfall events that occurred early in this year and exceeded the infamous 1% AEP. The actual recorded rainfall patterns over the regional catchments have been modelled to test the equations response to real rainfall.
The third part of this presentation will respond to some of the feedback that the original study has received from industry experts. One of the main topics from reviewers has been the spatial variance of rainfall (what happens if it only rains in part of the regional catchment or the rainfall is not equal over the catchment). A method for randomly distributing rainfall over the catchment as part of a monte-carlo simulation technique in a hydrologic model will be described to address these reviewers’ concerns.
Lastly, a discussion from the audience will be encouraged. Stories involving projects with stormwater detention at inappropriate locations, and any strategies for driving policy change will be greatly welcomed.
Registration: This webinar is FREE of charge to all.
Hosted by Stormwater Queensland & IECA
Topic: Erosion and Sediment Control in Queensland – Changes Design Engineers need to be made aware of.
Presenters: Kyle Robson –Managing Director at Topo
Date: Thursday, November 26, 2020
Time: 1pm – 1:45pm
Description: In 2017, the Queensland government updated the State Planning Policy (SPP). The SPP included some significant changes in how Erosion and Sediment Controls are to be designed and managed. Based on a review of Erosion and Sediment Control plans being submitted with Operational Works drawings, it is clear many design Engineers are not complying with the new requirements. This leads to confusion for contractors during tendering and risk of incorrect budgeting or expectations for all involved in the project.
This webinar will provide a simplistic overview of what the changes are, what this looks like and where individuals or companies can find resources to help them transition designs to comply with legislative requirements. The session is focused at Engineers, individuals and companies preparing designs for the urban development sector and will also include a Q&A session where attendees can ask any questions they have on the changes or design process.
This is a joint webinar by Stormwater Queensland and the International Erosion Control Association.
This event may attract CPD points. Please contact your relevant professional Institute or industry organisation to confirm.
Registration: This webinar is FREE of charge to all.
Topic: The private experience of managing stormwater quality
Presenter: Ruby Ardren, Project Leader – Water Management @Northern Beaches Council
Date: Thursday 11 March 2021
Time: 1pm – 1:45pm
Description:
Water Cycle Management Officer, Ruby Ardren, will introduce you to the results of her recent exploratory study completed for a Masters of Research, which identified that stormwater quality improvement devices on private property were not being maintained or even retained.
Ruby will provide a brief (approximately 20-minutes) presentation, followed by Q&A with attendees. Attendance will contribute to the CPD of attendees.
Registration: This webinar is FREE of charge to all.
Hosted by Stormwater QLD & Stormwater NSW and sponsored by 
This webinar will be presented by Aditya Singh, a Senior Water Resources Engineer at KCB. Last year, Aditya was part of a project within the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme managed by the Queensland Water Modelling Network (QWMN). As part of the project, he has looked at using a distributed catchment model to improve representation of catchment scale processes and linkages to finer scale hydrodynamic models. The project also saw the use of PEST for parameter estimation and a hybridisation approach involving some machine learning methods to predict water quality.
The webinar will include a short (approximately 20-minute) presentation by Aditya, followed by Q&A.
Registration: This webinar is FREE of charge to all.
Hosted by Stormwater Queensland and Stormwater New South Wales
Topic: WSUD asset management requirements for new development – legislation, development and compliance
Presenters:
Dr Andrew Thomas – Vice President – Stormwater NSW
Daniel Rider –WSUD Compliance Officer at Blacktown City Council
Date: Wednesday 9 June, 2021
Time: 1pm – 1:45pm
Description: In 2012, Blacktown City Council established a Water Sensitive Urban Design Compliance Program. A first of its kind in Australia, the Program aims to increase compliance with legal requirements for the management of privately-owned water sensitive urban design assets in the Council area. This webinar will provide an overview of the Program as well as a project that seeks to improve its capacity to increase compliance with legal requirements. It may offer important insights for local authorities in New South Wales and Queensland seeking to establish their own compliance programs and initiatives.
This is a free webinar provided in collaboration between Stormwater Queensland and Stormwater NSW. Attendance will contribute to the CPD of attendees.
Registration: This webinar is FREE of charge to all.
Trees growing to maturity in streets and civic spaces are commonly the primary objective of urban forest strategies, with stormwater management also a requirement. These trees provide a range of high value ecosystem services, including cooling, shading and enhanced aesthetics.
Understanding the tree requirements for healthy growth is essential – particularly regarding availability of soil-based resources of water, nutrients, oxygen and suitable soil root development conditions.
In this webinar, Geoff Connellan provides an overview of approaches to passive irrigation to contribute to tree canopy targets in streets and civic spaces, and learnings from passive irrigation installations.
Topics covered include tree water demand estimation, tree water use results, system design considerations (e.g., catchment properties, inlet design, site storage, soil volume sizing and water distribution), the limitations of passive irrigation, opportunities for active irrigation and the circumstances that support structured soil systems. Reporting of stormwater system tree performance is reviewed.
This free webinar will include a short (20-minute) presentation by Geoff, followed by Q&A from attendees.
The Queensland Urban Drainage Manual (QUDM) has underwent a significant review, and a new version was launched by IPWEAQ and the Department of Energy and Water Supply on 26 October 2017. Our speaker, Sarah Hausler, was a member of the QUDM Review Steering Committee. Sarah led the redrafting of Chapter 3 of QUDM, which deals with the legal aspects of urban stormwater, including the renowned lawful point of discharge test.
The purpose, status and function of the lawful point of discharge test has been subject to some controversy. Chapter 3 of QUDM was amended in 2017 to improve the alignment between the lawful point of discharge test and the general law, with a view to making the legal content of QUDM more accessible to its users.
We are now four years on from the commencement of QUDM Fourth Edition. This seminar will provide an overview of the lawful point of discharge test and other relevant legal considerations, along with some recent case studies involving stormwater discharge.
Presenters
Sarah Hausler, Partner, McCullough Robertson Lawyers
Sarah Hausler is a specialist planning and environment lawyer focusing on water, infrastructure and environmental compliance. Her expertise is complemented by her degrees in environmental science and urban and regional planning which complement her practical approach to the commercial and policy context in which her clients operate. Sarah is the current President of the Queensland Environmental Law Association, and is on the Board of the Institute of Public Works Engineers Queensland.
Alesia Shard, Lawyer, McCullough Robertson Lawyers
Alesia is a governance, planning and environment lawyer at McCullough Robertson, focussing on planning and environment litigation, as well as infrastructure and governance advisory. Alesia has significant experience advising clients on stormwater discharge matters, including providing advice about the lawfulness of stormwater arrangements and legal options to resolve issues with those arrangements, as well as experience acting for clients in Planning and Environment Court appeals relating to stormwater issues.
Event Information
Date: 18 August 2021
- 5.00pm registration
- 5.15 pm – 6.15 pm – presentation including Q&A
- 6.15 pm – 7.00 pm – cheese board, drinks and networking
Blacktown City Council and Healthy Land and Water have recently undertaken projects to update their specifications for bioretention filter media, transition and drainage layer materials. These projects arose from (i) gaps in the science related to media configuration to achieve desired outcomes and (ii) difficulties sourcing materials complying with specifications.
While the projects produced updated specifications, the above issues remain and it has been recognised that, in order to successfully implement bioretention systems in the future, they need to be addressed.
This joint 90-minute Stormwater Queensland and Stormwater NSW event will include succinct presentations from Blacktown City Council’s Mark Liebman and Ben Penhallurick, Healthy Land and Water’s Glenn Browning, University of Melbourne’s Professor Tim Fletcher and Contech Engineered Solutions’ Craig Fairbaugh, and interactive discussions and Q&A with attendees.
Registration is $10.
A certificate of attendance can be provided upon request.
This webinar is very similar to the sold-out seminar held on 18th August 2021.
The Queensland Urban Drainage Manual (QUDM) underwent a significant review and a new version was launched by IPWEAQ and the Department of Energy and Water Supply on 26 October 2017. One of our speakers, Sarah Hausler, was a member of the QUDM Review Steering Committee. Sarah led the redrafting of Chapter 3 of QUDM, which deals with the legal aspects of urban stormwater, including the renowned lawful point of discharge test.
The purpose, status and function of the lawful point of discharge test has been subject to some controversy. Chapter 3 of QUDM was amended in 2017 to improve the alignment between the lawful point of discharge test and the general law, with a view to making the legal content of QUDM more accessible to its users.
We are now four years on from the commencement of QUDM Fourth Edition. This webinar will provide an overview of the lawful point of discharge test and other relevant legal considerations, along with some recent case studies involving stormwater discharge.
Presenters
Sarah Hausler, Partner, McCullough Robertson Lawyers
Sarah Hausler is a specialist planning and environment lawyer focusing on water, infrastructure and environmental compliance. Her expertise is complemented by her degrees in environmental science and urban and regional planning which complement her practical approach to the commercial and policy context in which her clients operate. Sarah is the current President of the Queensland Environmental Law Association, and is on the Board of the Institute of Public Works Engineers Queensland.
Alesia Shard, Lawyer, McCullough Robertson Lawyers
Alesia is a governance, planning and environment lawyer at McCullough Robertson, focussing on planning and environment litigation, as well as infrastructure and governance advisory. Alesia has significant experience advising clients on stormwater discharge matters, including providing advice about the lawfulness of stormwater arrangements and legal options to resolve issues with those arrangements, as well as experience acting for clients in Planning and Environment Court appeals relating to stormwater issues.
Event Information
Date: 21 October 2021
Time: 12:30 – 1:30pm (AEST)
Registration is $10.
A certificate of attendance can be provided upon request.
Healthy freshwater streams rely on may factors that are strongly influenced by hydrology and not related to water quality. The Healthy Land & Water Blueprint for Improving Waterway Management (2020) advocates for a change to the SPP to introduce new targets such as flow controls to reduce detrimental impacts from urban flow increases.
Tony Weber, one of the authors of the blueprint, will discuss why such targets are needed to protect Queensland’s waterways. He will also review the development and application of hydrological targets for stormwater, currently taking place in other states and how such targets can be assessed.
Carl Tippler will also cover ecological requirements of streams and their links to hydrology, along with some case study examples.
This 1-hour webinar is hosted by Stormwater Queensland and will include presentations from Tony and Carl, followed by Q&A with attendees.
Proof of CPD will be provided to attendees upon request to Stormwater Queensland.
