Ocean Protect

Ocean Protect is pleased to advise that Stormwater Australia has confirmed compliance with their Stormwater Quality Improvement Device Evaluation Protocol (SQIDEP) for Filterra® bioretention. The SQIDEP verification is based on ‘real world’ performance monitoring of a Filterra® bioretention that has been in operation (so far) in Western Sydney for over six (6) years. The SQIDEP verification certificate is available via the Stormwater Australia website, which outlines the SQIDEP-approved MUSIC modelling methodology for Filterra®. Ocean Protect’s Brad Dalrymple said “Filterra® bioretention is becoming increasingly popular with local government and stormwater professionals – particularly due to its high resilience, easy maintenance, demonstrated performance and easy integration, as it is typically three to five times smaller than conventional bioretention. The SQIDEP verification provides another level of assuredness to stakeholders of the ‘real world’ performance, and allows Filterra® bioretention to be applied in areas where SQIDEP certification is required”. To date, Ocean Protect have received SQIDEP verification for JellyFish® filter, OceanGuard®, StormFilter® PSorb, and StormFilter® NPSorb, and now Filterra® bioretention system. This brings us to 5 verification certificates under the ‘Body of Evidence’ pathway. Learn more about these products here https://lnkd.in/gKfjXKHW Ocean Protect’s Director and CEO, Michael Wicks said “I’d like to thank all the parties involved in what has been a long and arduous process – particularly the independent reviewers that acted appropriately. Whilst we are happy to now have SQIDEP verification for five or our technologies, we remain concerned about the deficiencies and inadequacies with SQIDEP. Ocean Protect, Stormwater Victoria, Stormwater NSW and Stormwater Queensland have communicated these deficiencies to Stormwater Australia since the release of SQIDEP in 2019, and Ocean Protect will continue to advocate and educate for better ocean and waterway protection in Australia.” Please contact us at enquiries@oceanprotect.com.au if you have any questions.

OCEAN NEWS: Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - Public Consultation on Draft Guidance for PFAS. This month, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) released the draft updated Australian Drinking Water Guidelines on PFAS. The draft guidelines propose health-protective levels for four PFAS: lower levels for the three types of PFAS in the current guidelines (PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS); and a new level for an additional PFAS chemical – PFBS. Further information is available here https://lnkd.in/gWgcNJMQ

This picture perfectly encapsulates our company mission and the essence of our name - Ocean Protect ! In September 2024, we had the privilege of installing a Vortechs® VX2000 Gross Pollutant Trap at one of the most famous beaches in Australia, Bondi in Sydney. Ocean Protect worked with Contractor Urban Renew and Consulting Engineers Civille, along with Waverley Council on the South Bondi Water Quality Improvement Project. Waverley Council are undertaking works to upgrade and expand the capacity of the existing stormwater treatment system that forms part of the Bondi stormwater harvesting scheme. The Ocean Protect Vortechs® system will effectively remove fine sediment, oil and grease, along with larger debris to ensure the stormwater run-off doesn't impact this stunning location. Another benefit of the design is it allows for easy inspection and unobstructed maintenance access. If you’d like to learn more about our Vortechs® system or other products from Ocean Protect , visit our website here https://lnkd.in/gKfjXKHW or contact us at enquries@oceanprotect.com.au

Take a look at this stunning birds-eye view of a Stormwater Management StormFilter® installation from our client Regal Plumbing. The project was part of the ongoing expansion of Catholic College, St Anthony of Padua, in Sydney’s Western suburb of Austral. Ocean Protect also supplied 35 OceanGuard® filters to help eliminate pollution from entering the local Kemp’s creek waterway system from stormwater runoff around the school. If you want to learn more about Ocean Protect’s extensive range of stormwater solutions visit oceanprotect.com.au or learn more about Regal Plumbing visit their website here https://lnkd.in/g7WTecR8

Ipswich City Council has recently announced that, as of 1st June 2024, they will be doubling their offset payment costs. In a small number of local governments in Australia, stormwater quality offsets provide a mechanism whereby local governments collect voluntary payments from developers in lieu of complying with legislated stormwater quality management objectives on site. These local governments are subsequently responsible for utilising these funds to implement stormwater solutions that achieve a better or equivalent outcome external to the site.  For several years, the City of Ipswich has collected and applied stormwater quality offset funds. As described in the City of Ipswich “Register of Fees and Charges – 2024-2025” report (page 107), developments approved prior to 30 June 2024 were required to pay $560 per unit of water quality area (equivalent area of bioretention). However, for developments approved on or after 1 July 2024, this rate has increased to $1,121.23. Read the report here https://lnkd.in/gJCaBZV3 Ocean Protect 's Brad Dalrymple shared his thoughts on this recent change: “This rate increase is a positive change for Ipswich City Council, as it will likely see greater focus on stopping pollution 'at source' – an essential part of Water Sensitive Urban Design and Total Water Cycle Management”.

Thanks Rob de Nys for sharing the great work being done in South Australia! If you'd like to learn more about OceanSave®- our full capture, high-capacity gross pollutant trap designed to remove particles greater than 1mm, visit https://lnkd.in/g752457

Today, we proudly hosted the Tasmanian Stormwater Symposium in partnership with Derwent Estuary Program, bringing together a room full of passionate stormwater professionals! A huge thank you to everyone who attended, presented, and supported this year’s event. Your enthusiasm and insights were invaluable to the Tasmanian stormwater community. Let’s keep the conversation flowing —share your favourite moments or takeaways in the comments.

In this week's Ocean Protect Podcast, Brad Dalrymple meets with Kelen Marczak Polli, a Stormwater Engineer with Arup, who is making strides in the Stormwater and Engineering communities. She is the 2024 Winner of both the Australian and Queensland Emerging Stormwater Professional of the Year Award, for Stormwater Australia and Stormwater Queensland. She has also been crowned winner of the 2024 Queensland Emerging Professional Engineer of the Year Award by Engineers Australia. In this chat, Kelen share's her humble story - coming from Brazil with an engineering degree but very little English, the struggle to land her first engineering job in Australia, and advice for other students and graduates starting their engineering careers. Listen to the podcast here https://lnkd.in/gdKd2mnc - or via your favourite podcast platform.   Useful links: - Follow Kelen Marczak Polli on LinkedIn - Follow Kelen on Instagram here https://lnkd.in/gPdfQ6eC - Learn more about the Engineers Australia "Internships Information for International Students" here https://lnkd.in/gE6PVvRf or their "Global Engineering Talent Program" https://lnkd.in/g-PVkYid   For further information about Ocean Protect visit oceanprotect.com.au

This month, the LNP - Liberal National Party has taken government in Queensland’s state election - winning a majority, beating the Australian Labor Party across the regions. One of their campaigns is the 'Zero Litter to the Bay by 2030' – an initiative developed with Ocean Protect 's Brad Dalrymple, and based on the Zero Litter to Ocean Policy developed by Ocean Protect and Stormwater NSW. See the campaign here https://lnkd.in/gN7_fKk9 The campaign has already had widespread media attention, such as the Sky News report here https://lnkd.in/g53n3JrN Ocean Protect ’s Brad Dalrymple said, “The initiative will see State Government provide $35 Million to local governments to significantly reduce the amount of plastic and other pollution flowing into Moreton Bay and upstream waterways.” For further information, head to the LNP - Liberal National Party website here https://lnkd.in/gBk5Ms_F or contact Brad Dalrymple.

📢 Final Chance to Secure Your Seat and Only One Week till the Tasmanian Stormwater Symposium - Register here https://lnkd.in/gsJvxhEA 🌟 Tickets will be closing Friday 15th November 2024 🌟 📃 View the Event Agenda here https://lnkd.in/gjdeKf4F Event Details 📅 Date: 20th November 2024 | ⏰ Time: 8:30am - 5pm (AEDT) 📍 Location: Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart 💲 Cost: $125 | Includes morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and networking drinks. 🎫 Tickets: https://lnkd.in/gsJvxhEA Don't miss out on presentations and collaborative workshops with our speakers: ◽ Dr Britta Denise Hardesty | Senior Principal Research Scientist | CSIRO ◽ Anna Wilson | Manager Waterways | City of Hobart ◽ Murray Powell | General Manager | Optimal Stormwater Pty Ltd ◽ Alan H Walker | Senior Stormwater & Waterways Engineer | Kingborough Council ◽ Brad Dalrymple | Principal Environmental Engineer | Ocean Protect ◽ Justine Barrett | Research Technician & iPhD Student | CSIRO Marine Debris Group ◽ Phillip Pennisi | Scientific Project Officer, Stormwater | Derwent Estuary Program ◽ Daniel Rider | WSUD Specialist | Ocean Protect ◽ Tomas Remenyi | Climate Scientist | Acclimatised ◽ Simon Hughes | Technical Lead | BURNIE CITY COUNCIL ◽ Nigel Vivian | Senior Project Manager/Engineer | Sugden & Gee Pty Ltd This event is proudly supported by Ocean Protect and the Derwent Estuary Program.