Heading Text Queensland Water Directorate David Wiskar Chair Technical Reference Group

Presentation Overview The Regulatory Framework in Queensland Queensland Local Government Water Service Providers The Opportunity The Queensland Water Directorate – Who are we? A Paradigm Shift in the Policy Cycle Achievements The Future – Strengths, Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats

Queensland Water Directorate The Mission: “To provide leadership to the Water Industry in Queensland, influence policy and regulation and achieve better outcomes at lower cost”

Environmental Protection Agency Natural Resources and Mines Local Government and Planning Queensland Health 5 State Government Agencies 200 Water Service Providers 125 Local Governments Mining Companies Remote & Indigenous Communities Island Resorts 9 State Government Regulatory Instruments EP Act & Regs. Water Act & Regs. Local Government Act Health Act QLD Competition Authority EPP Water Plumbing and Drainage Act Water Boards and Bulk Suppliers

Queensland Local Government Water Service Providers Replacement Asset Value $18 billion Water and Sewer Customers 3.8 million Water Connections 1.4 million Sewer Connections 1.3 million Length of water mains33,000 km Number of Water Treatment Plants 203 Number of Sewage Treatment Plants 560 Number of Water Storages 100 Total Water Storage Capacity2,687 GL

Opportunity - A New Leadership Role for Local Government Water Service Providers One voice to influence policy and regulations A common approach to interpretation and implementation of policy and regulations Alliances for beneficial outcomes Demonstrate higher performance at lower cost

The Water Directorate – Who are we? LGAQ LGMA AWA IPWEAQ Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia Qld Division Inc

Organisational Structure Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia Qld Division Inc QWD Executive Officer Management Committee Technical Reference Group

Assisting the Policy Cycle Water Businesses Provide the Service Water Directorate Tools and Information Policy Development LGAQ Government Departments develop policy

LGAQ Executive Committee Policy and Representation Committee State Government Agencies State Government Policy, Legislation and Strategic Projects that impact on Local Government Water Service Providers and hence the LGAQ and QWD. QWD Executive Officer QWD Technical Reference Group (TRG) Queensland Water Directorate Policy Endorsement Process QWD Management Committee (Incorporating LGAQ, IPWEAQ, LGMA, AWA) Cental Queensland Region South East RegionSouth-West RegionNorthern Queensland Region Queensland Water Directorate Members (Local Government Water Service Providers)

Achievements Membership Strategic Plan Project Delivery Schedule State Government Project Partnerships

The Future – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats Water Reform Agenda – National and State Existing Networks Strategic Priorities Institutional Arrangements - Sustainability Resourcing Partnering LGAT CONFERENCE TASMANIA JUNE 2006

Some Key Outputs State-wide Information Management (SWIM) Project Water Sensitive Urban Design Guidelines Drought Management Plan Template Fluoride Fact Sheets Demand Management Fact Sheets Water Loss Software STP Manual Greywater – How to Guide for Local Government Blue-Green Algae LGAT CONFERENCE TASMANIA JUNE 2006

A Project Example

The Problem Local Government water service providers currently collect, organise and store data for at least 37 reports, requested by 9 different organisations at various times of the year.

Some Examples OrganisationReportRegulatoryVoluntary DLGPS&RLocal Government Comparative SurveyX Comparative Performance ReportX Local Government Bodies Capital Works Subsidy Scheme (TMP (Financial Update Reporting) done by DNRM) XX Local Government Grants CommissionX 5 year Capital Works ProgramX

Some Examples DNRMStrategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP)X Water Leakage Plans (2005)X Customer Service StandardsX Water Consumption DataX Water Resource Systems (WID)X Water Utilities Queensland ReportX Dam Safety DataX National Water InventoryX Internal data review projectX Water EntitlementsX

Some Examples EPAAnnual Return for ERA’sX Wastewater Spills ReportX License ExceedancesX License ReportsX Water QualityX Environmental Protection Policy (Water Plans)X Water Recycling & Efficiency InformationX Consumer Usage PatternsX National Pollutant InventoryX State of the Environment ReportingX

Local Government Benefits Reducing resources diverted to reporting activities from core business; Improving accounting of key information for business planning; Identifying and quantifying potential operational improvements; Providing comparative data for benchmarking; Improving access to data and communication within the business; and Improving community relations through greater transparency.

State Government Benefits Improved data accuracy. Allow for the better prioritisation of grants and subsidy scheme funding (benchmarking so that gaps in performance can be worked on). Provides greater information about how to apply their policies to get the best outcomes. Meets the objectives of the National Water Initiative. Enables a one stop shop for information about local and non-local government water supply performance. Improved operational efficiencies across State Government departments currently duplicating requests for information and reporting compilation. This will free up resources to focus on other initiatives and on data analysis rather than data gathering. Much faster response times. Increased reliability in terms of time scheduling and frequency.

Cutting reporting costs

Organisation SizeCalculation (multiplied by) Efficiency gains to be redirect to core business Estimated Operational Savings 75 Small Orgs 0.25 FTE$937,500$1,220, Medium Orgs0.5 FTE$750,000$2,080, Large Orgs1 FTE$1,000,000$8,930,000 Total$2,687,500$12,230,000

The Solution Design and implement by July , an on- line water reporting system in Queensland for the efficient collection, storing and reporting of local government water service provider data.

Project Partners Project Leader – Department of Local Government Planning Sport and Recreation Queensland Water Directorate (QWD) Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Other State Government Departments; DNRM, EPA, Treasury

Project Phases Initiation & Planning – 3 rd quarter 2005 Investigation & Evaluation – 1 st Quarter 06 Specification & Design of Systems – 3 rd quarter 06 System Implementation - 4 th quarter 07 Capacity Building – 2 nd quarter 07 Development & Enactment of Legislation – 1 st quarter 07 Review & Evaluate Implementation – 4 th quarter 08

Project Management QWET Steering Committee LGAQQWD State Agency Reps DLGPSR Minister DLGPSR LGAQ Executive Project Manager Project support group State GovernmentOther OrganisationsWater Service Providers

Project Endorsement Hon Terry Mackenroth Then Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Sport I welcome this review of reporting requirements of local Government water service providers as an opportunity to better integrate and streamline water service provider reporting requirements across all levels of government Hon Desley Boyle Minister for Environment, Local Government, Planning and Women I am supportive of a review of current reporting requirements to identify the most efficient mechanisms for collection of necessary data from local government water service providers. It is in everyone’s best interest to have the most effective processes in place to provide and receive data necessary for the maintenance of frameworks supporting water supply thought Queensland.

Some Queensland Water Management Innovations Of Interest IPWEA NATIONAL CONFERENCE ADELAIDE - AUGUST 2005

An Australian first….. ….in your front yard

The project Replace old and failing meters domestic water meters July 2006 – May 2007 $5.4 million - $2.6 million from federal government Discussions pending regarding a State Government investment in the project Every home fitted with “Smart Metering” units - FREE

The project Replace old and failing meters domestic water meters July 2006 – May 2007 $5.4 million - $2.6 million from federal government Discussions pending regarding a State Government investment in the project Every home fitted with “Smart Metering” units - FREE

Driving your Water Meters $ Further! When you drive your shiny new Holden out of the show room it decreases in value Every KL of water passing through your water meter means revenue reduction

Are our meters reading accurately?

What is Smart Metering? Elster meters fitted with Firefly data loggers Logs hourly water use data Stores up to 90 days data Automated Meter Reading (AMR) technology

Every meter a data logger Every meter now is an interval data recorder Data not normally available without expensive fixed network or meter equipment Programmable from 1 minute to 4 hours FIREFLY – Intervals –8k = hour (Gas) –16k = minutes (Electric) –2k = 74 1 hour (Water) Dispute resolution, theft prevention, virtual turn on/turn off, conservation monitoring, peak demand, TOU billing, meter right sizing, system optimisation, customer usage comparisons, more...

Costs\benefits Automatic Meter Reading more expensive: Normal Metering - $40 per installation AMR Metering - $150 per installation Costs offset by; Water efficiency benefits Capital deferment (Trunk infrastructure) Improved and more accurate billing More accurate metering Potential meter reading cost reductions (medium to long term)

How this initiative will conserve water Force outdoor usage off peak reduce water consumption. Highlight internal leakage through better communication Improve pricing signals to all customers (not just the environmentally motivated ones) Accurate metering

How this initiative will conserve water? Encourage external water into the evenings reducing evaporation Better information regarding how people use water (this will allow improved targeting of encouragement and education initiatives) Preliminary estimates suggest savings of; 60,000 litres per property per year 600 – 1000 megalitres per year

Closing slide… The Queensland Water Directorate David Wiskar – Chair Technical Reference Group Web Phone (07) LGAT CONFERENCE TASMANIA JUNE 2006