Upcoming Events

Nov
13
Mon
2017
(EXTERNAL) Engineers Aust: Hydraulics in Water Engineering Conference @ Dockside, Balcony Level, Sydney
Nov 13 – Nov 16 all-day
AR&R 2016 in Practice – The concepts, the limitations and implementation @ Woongarra Training Room, Bundaberg Regional Council
Nov 13 @ 10:30 am – 3:00 pm

AR&R 2016 in Practice – Learning the concepts, understanding the limitations and knowing how to implement

Presenter: Martin Giles

Includes: Presentation, Q&A Session and Lunch

As part of our regional focus Stormwater Queensland is proud to announce the above-mentioned event.

It’s fair to say that no other release of technical guideline information has had more of an impact in our industry than the latest release of the Australian Rainfall and Runoff. But what does this mean to practising engineers?

AR&R 2016 is a phenomenal update on the previous version with far more thoroughly researched concepts and extensive data captured in the review but has been criticised in the industry for its complexity, mixed understanding and potential difficulty in applying in practice.

Regardless, the literature remains as our premier piece of engineering guidance in how to approach flood modelling in particular and as an industry, we must move forward to begin to understand and apply the concepts in all facets where it is suitable.

This event will aim to provide:

  • A high-level overview of the guideline including all nine books of the recent addition focusing on major components such as temporal pattern changes.
  • Application of understanding the transition from theory to practice. As an example, what will happen to our detention basin and channel sizing? What does this actually mean for hydrological ensemble modelling now?
  • As an engineer do I now need to become accustomed to this? Do I need to apply it now? What does this mean to my day to day? Am I going to need to charge clients more to allow this adoption and implementation?

This course will be presented by Martin Giles. Martin has 28 years experience, specialising in hydraulic and environmental investigations. Modelling work undertaken by Martin has included complex floodplain systems and the application of dynamic modelling to urban stormwater design. Martin has also recently run Stormwater Queensland’s Winter School on AR&R16 which was well received by various professionals across the industry.

An open facilitated question and answer session will also be incorporated within the components above allowing consultants and council officers to liaise about various components of the new guideline. This is an essential part going forward for this relationship to allow and facilitate a transition to AR&R 16.

Stormwater Queensland value the contribution of all areas across Queensland and wish to promote and encourage the support and contribution from areas outside of the Brisbane CBD. Such that the cost of this event will be significantly reduced, from approximately $450-$550, to encourage and maximise participation.

Seats are limited, so hurry and book your spot now.

Includes Presentation, Q&A Session & Lunch.

Nov
30
Thu
2017
Incorporating Water Sensitive Ideas Into Our City – Toowoomba @ Multipurpose Room (Level 3), Toowoomba City Library
Nov 30 @ 10:30 am – 2:30 pm

Incorporating Water Sensitive Ideas into our progress as a city. Where to from here for Toowoomba?”

Presenters:

Alan Hoban – Bligh Tanner

Adam Berry – Stormwater Queensland

Representatives from Toowoomba City Council

This event will centre on East Creek and how that history can highlight the progressive nature of the City and where concepts of good design can be incorporated into the development of a water sensitive city.

A tour will be undertaken of East Creek, highlighting its colourful history, hints of earlier attempts at water sensitive design and how it has progressed over its life to its current mixed state now. This tour aims to:

  • Showcase some of those attempts both historical and recent
  • Highlight significant constraints within the corridors
  • Highlight potential opportunities and learnings
  • Discuss design and construction detail on various projects in the East Creek Catchment

Following the tour a presentation and interactive session will take place on:

  • An overview of some of the challenges and opportunities facing the Toowoomba Regional Council Region
  • Moving from East Creek learnings and into urban development discussion
  • A presentation on options available inclusive on targeted outcomes and design/construction overview
  • A discussion and analysis from the audience on these options
  • Where to from here?

Stormwater Queensland value the contribution of all areas across Queensland and wish to promote and encourage the support and contribution from areas outside of Brisbane CBD. Such that the cost of this event will be significantly reduced to encourage and maximise participation.

Seats are limited, so hurry and book your spot now.

Includes: Site Tour (Transport included), Presentation, Lunch and a Q&A Session

Feb
27
Tue
2018
Blockages, Barrels & Barramundi – Culvert Design Workshop @ Southport Community Centre
Feb 27 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Blockages, Barrels & Barramundi – Culvert Design Workshop @ Southport Community Centre | Southport | Queensland | Australia

Date: 27th February 2018

Time: 9 – 11am with 8.30 registration

Location: Southport Community Centre – 6 Lawson Street, Southport

Presenters: Paul Ollett from HydraLinc Pty Ltd & Sophia Buchanan from Innovyze

Includes: Presentations, Q&A and light refreshments

Cost: $55 members | $95 non-members

Culverts come in all shapes and sizes and chances are you crossed one on your way to work this morning. We generally rely on computer software to assess and design them, but can you trust the answer the computer gives you? This workshop is designed to go back to first principles, giving practitioners the tools they need to check hydraulic model results by hand and give them confidence in their day to day work.

The workshop will provide an opportunity to network with industry peers and will cover the following:

  • The energy equation & its application to culverts
  • Flow conditions (Inlet and outlet control)
  • Entry, barrel and exit Losses
  • New blockage considerations from ARR16
  • Fish Passage requirements
  • Where to go for References and Technical Guides
  • Benefits to using hydrographs over peak flows for culvert design
  • Project example: culvert calculations by hand
  • Q&A

SECURE YOUR SPOT AND REGISTER NOW BELOW.

Apr
12
Thu
2018
Extended Committee Meeting – Offsets Policy Consultation @ Brisbane City Library, Community Meeting Room
Apr 12 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

INVITATION TO MEMBERS

Extended Committee Meeting

Draft Point Source & Diffuse Source

OFFSETS POLICY CONSULTATION

The QLD Department of Environment and Science (formerly DEHP) have released draft policies on Point Source (eg. WWTPs) and Diffuse Source (eg. urban development) Offsets. Please find them available for download below.

Draft-off-site-urban-stormwater-management (PDF)

Draft-point-source-water-quality-offsets-policy_March 2018 (PDF)

A supporting Guideline for implementation is also under preparation by Healthy Land & Water.

Due to limited time for public consultation, Stormwater Queensland is holding an Extended Committee meeting and invites all members interested in providing feedback to attend. Mr Jim Fewings, Ms Paulina Kaniewska & Mr Brad Dines will be attending to discuss the background to the Policies. Mr Paul McDonald (Healthy Land & Water) will speak to the preparation of the Guidelines. Stormwater Queensland will formally collate the feedback from the workshop and respond to the Department.

Price: Nil

It is anticipated that the consultation will be completed by 3pm, and the workshop will break. Members are welcome to stay for the regular Stormwater Queensland committee meeting thereafter.

Please RSVP your intention to attend by 5th April 2018.  Click the register link below or email admin@stormwaterqueensland.asn.au

**IMPORTANT NOTICE – Stormwater Queensland will be broadcasting a live stream of this event to enable our regional members & others who are not able to attend to view the event while it is underway. Note: Stream will not include the regular committee meeting thereafter.

To view the broadcast click here – GO TO EVENT LIVE STREAM BROADCAST

Webcast participants will be able to post questions via the broadcast through the chat function.  An association representative will be moderating the questions raised online.

May
2
Wed
2018
Stormwater Queensland Experts Panel – AR&R 16 and QUDM Implementation
May 2 @ 10:00 am – 4:30 pm

The AR&R/QUDM workshop was a resounding success with plenty of robust discussion and commentary on the two new guidelines. Some of the key outcomes from the workshop were:

  1. Requests for detailed training once the AR&R Urban Chapter is released.  Stormwater Qld has also committed to investigating more detailed training and helping guide the industry in implementation.
  2. An understanding that the Rational Method may still be applicable for small-scale developments combined with the 2016 IFD’s but as development size & complexity increases, so should the level of modelling.  This should be a risk-based approach with the ultimate judgement being made by an RPEQ.
  3. Local authorities and consultants should note existing legislation/guidelines and changes to QUDM with regards to severe storm impact assessment and dam break analysis/emergency spillway design.
  4. Local authorities and consultants should note the update of QUDM on the lawful point of discharge which is now more reflective of common law.
  5. Most software is already developed to automatically include (through the Data Hub) most of the new AR&R16 changes.
  6. Improvements to and feedback on the Datahub are most welcome by the custodians and should be forwarded through to allow continuous improvement and progression.
  7. Further research and progress is being made on multiple components of AR&R16, particularly, refinement of the RFFE validation method.
  8. AR&R Book 9 draft will be released within the week.  Comments and review are welcome by the book editors.
  9. There are still many areas that remain uncertain, but the previous methods have even greater uncertainty;

Stormwater Queensland has recorded these key outcomes and actions and will provide feedback to the AR&R & QUDM editors.

As highlighted during the workshop, the link to the Hydralinc Blockage Tool – Beta version is below. You are invited to test and provide feedback to Paul directly:

http://www.hydralinc.com/stuff/

ARR2016 Blockage Tool: ARR2016 Bk6Ch6 Blockage – BETA v01.xlsx

We trust that you found the workshop worthwhile and look forward to seeing you again.

 


Sponsors:

Panel members

The event expert panel will comprise:

Mark Babister

Mark Babister FIEAust CPEng NER, is the Director at WMAwater and recent winner of Engineers Australia John Holland Civil Engineer of the Year 2017 award. He has also been involved in the publication of the ARR 2016, the 4th edition of ARR. 

Mark is a national leader in water engineering, specialising in flood estimation and floodplain management. He has over thirty years’ experience in water engineering studies, and has successfully led an extensive number of significant hydrologic, hydraulic, floodplain management, infrastructure and dam studies for a wide range of water managers and infrastructure owners. 

Adam Broit 

Adam is a Civil Engineer with over 10 years’ experience working on civil infrastructure projects. Adam’s core experience covers hydrology and hydraulics and has a focus on water projects. His experience ranges from stormwater network design, detailed hydrologic and hydraulic modelling, covering small cross drainage infrastructure through to large scale catchment modelling and water balance modelling.

Adam has had over 5 years’ experience working within the DA/OPW space and undertaking multiple urban stormwater management plans in South-East Queensland. He is currently working across a range of civil projects within the development and infrastructure space, ranging from overland flow path studies to flood mitigation works.
Sophia Buchanan

Sophia has 10yrs experience specialising in hydrology and hydraulics.  She has been the head training for XP Solutions and was instrumental in the implementation of ARR 2016 into Innovyze software.

Sophia has a demonstrated history of working in both the private and public sectors.  Projects undertaken by Sophia include large scale urban drainage schemes, stormwater quality and quantity modelling, flood management and detailed design for flood mitigation works.
Don Carroll

Don Carroll has over 30 years of experience in flood modelling and risk management throughout Australia and overseas. He has also worked extensively throughout South-East Asia in the areas of flood damage assessment, integrated disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, integrated basin management including institutional strengthening and flood risk vulnerability assessment. He is the author of the URBS model that is used extensively throughout Australia for flood forecasting and design incorporating the latest ARR 2016 guidelines.

Peter Coombes

Prof. Coombes has spent more than 30 years dedicated to the development of systems understanding of the urban, rural and natural water cycles with a view to finding optimum solutions for the sustainable use of ecosystem services, provision of infrastructure and urban planning.  He has been involved in a wide range of projects, advised many clients and governments, providing strategic design, policy and economic advice to the satisfaction of governments and society.  He is part of the ARR Editorial Team for Book 9 – Runoff in Urban Areas.

Alister Daly

Alister has more than 20 years’ experience in the water engineering industry throughout Australia and has worked extensively within the water resources, flooding and drainage sectors for Government and private sector clients across Australia.  Alister has held technical and management positions in both large and small consultancies in the Water Resources and Flooding sectors and has been actively involved in all levels of engineering consultancy.  He has worked extensively throughout Queensland, as well as throughout other regions throughout Australia (Victoria, Northern Territory, etc).  Alister also has international AusAID experience as a water resources advisor in China. Alister has also worked on numerous hydrologic and hydraulic assessments for development proposals, flood mitigation designs and hydraulic structure designs for both private and government clients.  Alister has also provided expert witness services in the Queensland Planning and Environment Court appeal process.

David Simpson

David is a Senior Civil and Environmental Engineer with 47 years of experience in civil, hydraulic and environmental engineering, including investigation, planning, design, construction and project management of development projects. His areas of expertise include creek stabilisation, integrated water cycle management, stormwater drainage, overland flow, water quality, water supply, sewerage, water treatment, wastewater treatment, industrial wastewater treatment, hydraulic services, subdivisions, hydro-electric schemes and expert witness services.

David has been with the Brisbane City Council for more than 20 years mainly involved with:

  • Investigation, design and certification of stormwater drainage designs;
  • Modelling of piped and overland flow stormwater drainage;
  • Integrated water cycle management for Willawong Bus Depot;
  • Design of creek stabilisation works to protect sewer crossings;
  • Design and project management of Stormwater Quality Improvement Devices (SQIDs);
  • Local stormwater drainage flooding investigations.

Grant Witheridge

Grant Witheridge is the principal of Catchments & Creeks Pty Ltd, and a leading authority in Hydraulics, Stormwater Management, Waterway Management, and construction site Erosion & Sediment Control.  He has over 35 years experience in the investigation, modelling and design of hydraulic structures, including 7 years at the University of NSW Water Research Laboratory.  Grant is the principal author of more than 30 technical publications including IECA Australasia’s (2008) Best Practice Erosion and Sediment Control documents, the 2007, 2013 and 2016 editions of the Queensland Urban Drainage Manual (QUDM), and publications on creek erosion, creek rehabilitation and fish passage.

 

Local Government Authorities (To be confirmed)

Facilitated by Adam Berry and Darren Drapper from Stormwater Queensland;

There simply will not be another event that provides a more broad, knowledgeable and passionate group of people that can deliver this type of training for this topic. It begs the question: Why would you attend training for one expert trainer when you can have ten for such an important occasion?

Discussions are currently occurring with the Stormwater Qld Committee, the panel, our members and the industry to finalise the format and topics of conversation. We envisage a format that will comprise:

  • Presentations on both AR&R16 and QUDM for an overview and highlighting the major
    changes
  • Your chance to shape and be heard on the much anticipated AR&R Urban Book with the lead editor Professor Peter Coombes on our panel
  • A series of questions relevant to each field of the panel on both guidelines
  • Open floor for questions from the audience
  • A session for real examples and scenarios of challenges implementing the guidelines including:
    • Road Drainage Design.
    • Subdivision Design with basin and culvert.
    • A flood model >25 km2.
    • A large, diverse and complex flood model >2,000 km2

This session is intended to provide guidance for the industry on implementing best practice for all scenarios encountered on a daily basis.

Whether you are part of development assessment, a floodplain manager or a subdivision designer, you simply cannot miss this event! it is a fundamental occasion providing surety and direction on moving forward with these two guidelines. The event is also an excellent opportunity to network with a wide variety of professionals and converse with our panel afterwards.

Networking: 4.30pm to 6.30pm.

This includes premium beer, wine and soft drinks as well as canapes included in the price. An excellent opportunity for the industry to come together for this occasion on the outside deck overlooking the Brisbane River.

Price:
Members: $230.00 (inc. GST)
Non-Members: $450.00 (inc. GST)

This is a first class event package and also includes lunch and 2 hours of canapés and drinks and has been significantly reduced for our valued Stormwater Queensland members. Non-members are encouraged to join to gain advantage out of this event and many other high quality events planned for the year.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Aug
2
Thu
2018
Microplastics and their Relationship with Stormwater and Wastewater – Research and Operations @ GHD
Aug 2 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Time : 5:30pm registration, 6pm start, 8pm finish

Queensland has recently introduced the single use plastic bag ban and is working towards a Container Recycling Scheme later this year. This has come about from the extensive research into the impact that plastics are having on our oceans. However, aside from the vision of turtles swimming in oceans of plastic bags and dead whales with plastic filling their gut, what is the science behind the news items? Is it as big an issue as the sensational headlines make out?

Come and hear from Professor Kevin Thomas (UQ Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), about the latest advancements in microplastics measurement and management challenges. Then learn from Colin Hester (Queensland Urban Utilities) on the logistics of managing a waste stream with microplastics within it.

Light refreshments & finger food included

Aug
29
Wed
2018
Workshop – Hydrology and Urbanisation – if it is such a big issue, why is it being ignored? @ Sky Room - Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Aug 29 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Facilitated by Tony Weber from Stormwater Queensland.

Hydrologic changes from urbanisation are one of the key stressors on local waterways, perhaps having a greater impact than water quality changes.  There has been a lot of research across Australia into these hydrologic impacts, but there is very little guidance on how best to manage hydrologic changes and the right targets that can be applied through a development assessment process.

In this workshop, we will present some of the latest research in hydrologic impacts and debate the possibility of new targets and methods by which to assess them.  This will be an interactive workshop, where we generate ideas and approaches that can be put back to regulators on how best to implement better management of urban hydrology for stream health.

Workshop (includes Awards Dinner) Tickets
Members: $230.00 (inc. GST)
Non-Members: $290.00 (inc. GST)

Non-members are encouraged to join to gain advantage of this event and many other high quality events planned for the year.

2018 Awards for Excellence Dinner @ Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Aug 29 @ 6:30 pm – 11:30 pm

Awards Dinner Tickets

Members: $100.00 (inc. GST)
Non-Members: $155.00 (inc. GST)

For entry submissions see below;

Awards for Excellence

Sep
6
Thu
2018
Advancements in Rainfall Predictions & Flood Forecasting @ Hawken Auditorium
Sep 6 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Joint event between;

Stormwater Queensland & Engineers Australia, Queensland Division, Water Panel

      

Date:  Thursday 6th September, 2018

Time:  1pm – 5pm (Registration opens 12.30pm)

Location:  Hawken Auditorium, Engineering House

Flood Forecasting requires underlying systems and techniques that has applications within various parts of the water industry. While the Bureau of Meteorology is the official flood forecasting agency, they work in close co-operation with related agencies who manage emergency response and/or water resources. This requires systems that take in real-time data and provide robust and quality controlled data to decision makers. Flood forecasting systems are a rapidly advancing, highly innovative field solving unique problems.  

This event will provide a range of presenters from the industry including: 

  • Seqwater (Lindsay Millard)
  • Bureau of Meteorology (Sue Oates & Jonty Hall)
  • Ipswich City Council (Adam Berry & Matthew Pinder)
  • Water Technology (Alister Daly)

The event will highlight and showcase how some of the different forecasting systems across organisations are being used and their linkages.  You will get to see firsthand how different authorities respond to actual flood events and how they work together in Qld – it is a peek into something quite unique and exciting.  A range of different forecasting and meteorological products ranging from basic to complex will also be demonstrated within multiple flood forecasting systems. 

BoM will provide a presentation on their new, current and future products.  This presentation will include information on their HyFS [Delft-FEWS] system and a general overview on the development phase STEPS and Rainfields products and how these have been incorporated into a trial flash flood forecasting system at Ipswich City Council.   Furthermore, an insight into how an Emergency Management Response team would utilise some of this data in an actual flood event will be provided 

Seqwater will demonstrate the real-time data exchange between the modelling systems occurring between BoM’s HyFS and SeqFEWS [Delft-FEWS flood warning systems. The quality control of the rain and flow gauge datafeeds that inform the models will also be presented. 

A method in which radar rainfall is utilised by flood modellers will also be showcased in an example of how to calibrate flood events using a radar rainfall calibration approach. 

This promises to be an event full of new information, practice and innovation in an emerging and exciting space in floodplain management.

Event facilitated by Daniel Niven (Engineers Australia Water Panel and Stormwater Qld Committee Member)