Stormwater Queensland

As we approach the end of a remarkable year, I want to take a moment to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the committee members, for your commitment to Stormwater Queensland and the wider community; and for inviting me in and making me feel so welcome. It is hard to believe how quickly this year has come to an end and how busy it still feels as we rush towards the silly season. I would very much like to thank our President, Mark Gibson, for his advice and David Simpson (Secretary), Charles Coathup (Treasurer) and all our committee and sub-committee members: Adrian Crocetti, Brad Dalrymple, Paul Dubowski, Courtney Henderson, Riley de Jong, Kelen Marczak Polli, Daniel Rhodes, Owen Richards, Sophie Waldron, Ben Walker, Tina Wang, Luke Verstraten, Glenn Browning, Michael Jacques and Tim Davies. I am sure you will do wonderful things over the coming year. Our committee members were asked the question ‘Why does water matter to you?’ My favourite moments involve watching my young daughter, while wearing a safety vest, fall out and climb back into a canoe on Somerset Dam. I had thrown off the protective mother shackles and let her go out on her own to test her boundaries, learn and grow. Now it’s a regular occurrence. I am thankful our local catchments offer these opportunities. It has been an exceptional year where we have delivered a multitude of exciting events, advocacy, communications and representations. We have celebrated the best of our sector through awards evenings and established traditions like the Bolder Goals event to challenge our concepts of stormwater. A very large congratulations to Kelen Marczak Polli, our stormwater engineer of the year. We will kick off next years events with the Queensland Water Summit in February, launch online training sessions, continue our tireless advocacy with our wider industry representatives; and of course engage with our members. I would like to invite all members of our stormwater community to actively engage with our association. Let's collaborate to shape the future of our stormwater industry. Your knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication are crucial to our shared success. Whether you're interested in joining a Branch Committee, participating in one of our technical discussions and training going forward, or exploring other ways to contribute, your involvement is invaluable. If you have questions or want to get involved, please contact us. I look forward to seeing our community flourish with your active participation. I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Stay safe during this season and take time to refresh and recharge. Get out into our beautiful environment and interact with our waterways. When we ask why water matters to you, I want to see you all able to share some amazing, inspiring and your joyous moments. Thank-you again for a great year and I look forward to catching up with you all again in 2025. Kylie Drapala - Vice President, Stormwater Queensland

On Thursday 5th December 2024, Stormwater Queensland hosted a free End of Year Networking Drinks event at Felons Brewing Co to celebrate the close of a great year. It was a close-knit group, but we reflected on some of the achievements of 2024 and strategised the future of urban water management in Queensland. Overall we all enjoyed great conversation, cold drinks, yummy bites and a spectacular view of Brisbane! Thank you to all the Stormwater Queensland Members who joined us for a night of networking and celebration.

The early season thunderstorms that have hit South East Queensland recently, have highlighted the potential for another volatile storm season. For many communities still recovering from the ferocious storms of recent years, there’s an understandable sense of apprehension. As our climate changes with a higher frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are we really ready for what’s coming this storm season? The Insurance Council of Australia’s Insurance Catastrophe Resilience Report 2023-24 states that insurance providers paid out over $2.2 billion dollars in claims from extreme weather events in 2023/24 (read the report here https://lnkd.in/gZeYy62f). The Christmas storms in the Gold Coast hinterland, which spread to parts of NSW and Victoria, resulted in $1.33 billion worth of claims. Tragically, the storm claimed the lives of seven people and required an extensive cleanup effort by local, state and Commonwealth government agencies. Over the past few years, councils have made considerable efforts to improve their storm readiness through investment in flood mitigation projects, upgraded drainage systems, and reinforced critical infrastructure. Similarly, significant strides have been made in the emergency management space for disaster preparedness, with investment being made by local and state governments. However, increased development (particularly infill development) continues to challenge these measures, straining infrastructure to manage higher stormwater flow rates. Homeowners are encouraged to review their own preparedness which includes ensuring they understand their level of flood risk, ensuring an adequate level of insurance, repairing roofs, clearing gutters, removing debris that can float and block stormwater pits and pipes, or creating family emergency kits and emergency evacuation plans. Communities in flood-prone areas need continued support in the form of flood-proofing grants (such as those recently offered under the Resilient Homes Fund), better access to emergency relief, and consistent communication during storms. In recent years we’ve learned that the success of storm preparedness lies in collaboration. Local councils, homeowners, and the wider community must all pull together, well before the skies darken, the winds roar and the rain begins to fall. Only by working together can South East Queensland truly be ready for the storms ahead.

Stormwater Queensland is excited to announce the inaugural Queensland Water Summit, to be held at Griffith University Southbank on Wednesday 19th February 2025. Learn more here https://lnkd.in/gxAPbjhv The Summit will discuss, showcase and drive action to redefine best practice protection and management of our waterways and water resources. This cross-sector event will connect Queensland’s leading water supply, stormwater, wastewater and other catchment and waterway health professionals. The summit aims to connect with other key stakeholders that have an interest or dependency on the protection and management of the water cycle - including indigenous communities, health experts, policy makers, regulators, planners, urban designers, and landscape architects. Through technical content, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities and social functions, we will build relationships and foster opportunities to work together for the future. The event is a collaboration between various groups including Stormwater Queensland, International WaterCentre, Griffith University, Australian Water Association, QUT (Queensland University of Technology), Planning Institute of Australia, IECA - International Erosion Control Association Australasia, and Water Sensitive Cities Australia.  Date: Wednesday 19th February 2024 Time: 9am - 5pm (AEST) Location: Griffith University - South Bank Cost: $80 Members Only Pre-Christmas special available until 25th December 2024 Tickets - https://lnkd.in/g36zQCd5

In July, we shared the recent changes to the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) providing some examples of how those changes may affect the stormwater industry. View the Act here https://lnkd.in/g4ddys3Y We noted that the changes include a new ‘General Environmental Duty’ (GED) offence which can be applied if someone fails to take ‘reasonably practicable’ (previously ‘reasonable and practicable’) action to prevent or minimise material or serious environmental harm. On Tuesday we explained what GED means, but what does it mean to take ‘reasonably practicable’ action to avoid harm? There is no single matter which determines what is (or was at a particular time) reasonably practicable however, the following list provides examples of matters to consider: 1. The nature of the harm or potential harm – A person should take into consideration the potential impacts that their activity could have on the environment, along with the likelihood and potential severity of these impacts. 2. The sensitivity of the receiving environment – A person must consider how their activity will or may affect the environmental values of the receiving environment including by considering the sensitivity of the receiving environment. 3. The current state of technical knowledge for the activity – this essentially means what reasonably ought to be known by someone undertaking the activity. Appropriate maintenance for stormwater quality treatment systems is common industry knowledge for example. 4. The likelihood of successful application of the different measures that might be taken – Identifying the risks and methods of control may include listing options and prioritising risk controls from the highest level of effectiveness to the lowest. Practices may need to change and improve over time especially as industry knowledge progresses. 5. Financial implications of the different measures as they would relate to the type of activity – The installation, operation, maintenance, and upgrade of treatment systems, plant and equipment necessary to protect environmental values is a cost that needs to be integrated into the activity. A person should not engage in an activity that gives rise to a risk of environmental harm if they cannot afford to implement the necessary controls to prevent the harm over the life of the activity. Each matter must be considered individually and in combination, with reference to the specific circumstances. Once a person has put in place appropriate measures to prevent or minimise environmental harm, they must ensure that the measures are, and remain, effective. It is important to understand that meeting the GED is ongoing, meaning continual periodic review of environmental risks and measures to prevent harm is required. Disclaimer: The above is not legal interpretation and readers are advised to seek their own legal counsel.

Most people are in the Stormwater industry because they love water in some way and connect with it in their lives. Thanks to Glenn Browning for sharing his moving image of why he loves water! “I love taking photos of water, it is always changing. Even when it is static, it changes depending on the light, the weather, and the time of day. Oceans and waterways are the perfect subject for my photography, artwork, and animated gifs like the one here.” Glenn Browning – Stormwater Queensland Committee Member Email your love of water pictures to admin@stormwaterqueensland.asn.au or send them in a direct message to our page. We will share these in upcoming Stormwater Queensland StormCast issues and on our social media pages.

In July, we shared the recent changes to the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld), providing some examples of how those changes may affect the stormwater industry. View the Act here https://lnkd.in/g4ddys3Y We noted that the changes include a new ‘General Environmental Duty’ (GED) offence which can be applied if someone fails to take ‘reasonably practicable’ (previously ‘reasonable and practicable’) action to prevent or minimise material or serious environmental harm. So what does the GED actually mean? The General Environmental Duty means that, "a person must not carry out any activity that causes, or is likely to cause, environmental harm unless the person takes all reasonably practicable measures to prevent or minimise the harm". A ‘person’ may include an individual person or an entity such as a company or Council. The GED therefore applies to everyone. Matters that may be taken into account include whether a person fails to: • Install, use and maintain plant, equipment, processes or systems in a way that minimises risks of environmental harm. • Use and maintain systems for the identification, assessment and control of risks of environmental harm and the evaluation of the effectiveness of controls. • Use and maintain systems to ensure that all substances are handled, stored, used or transported in a way that minimises risks. • Use and maintain systems to ensure that information, instruction, supervision and training is provided to any person engaging in the activity in a way that minimises risks of environmental harm. The penalty is currently up to $725,850 or 2 years in prison for a wilful contravention or $266,952 otherwise (current from 1 July 2024). The risk of causing harm increases for asset owners managing multiple systems. Multiple systems can be considered either collectively or individually as causing harm, and in the latter case, multiple instances of harm (and penalties) can occur. Stormwater quality treatment asset owners can minimise the risk of causing harm by ensuring stormwater assets are correctly designed, constructed/installed, established (where relevant), registered on asset databases, train staff in maintenance and appropriately fund and undertake maintenance activities. New stormwater management assets should be designed in accordance with current State Planning Policy objectives for the relevant development thresholds. Other initiatives may be required for minimising harm to waterways and ensuing compliance with receiving water quality objectives. Stay tuned for later this week as we share what is meant by ‘reasonably practicable’. Disclaimer: The above is not legal interpretation and readers are advised to seek their own legal counsel.

Last month Stormwater Queensland President, Mark Gibson, was featured on the Ocean Protect Podcast with fellow Committee Member, Brad Dalrymple. In their chat, they talk about Mark's passion for volunteering and stormwater - and how they've come together at Stormwater Queensland, and what's it been like (so far) as President. They also talk about some of the challenges facing the stormwater industry and what we can do about it. Listen to the full episode here https://lnkd.in/ggCVvwP

Last chance for Stormwater Queensland Members to register for the End of Year Networking Drinks https://lnkd.in/gt9qHPsr Date: Thursday 5th December 2024 | From 6:00pm (AEST) Location: Felons Brewery Cost: Free Register: Register your attendance her https://lnkd.in/gt9qHPsr Come down to Felons to celebrate the end of 2024 with Stormwater Queensland with free soft drinks and nibbles. Other drinks are available for purchase at the bar.

Dear Stormwater Queensland Members, Thank you for your support these last two years. I am grateful for the professional way you contribute and serve the stormwater community in your professions and associations. I am humbled to be selected to serve as the President of Stormwater Queensland for another two years. I congratulate Kylie Drapala, (Vice President), David Simpson (Secretary), Charles Coathup (Treasurer) and the newly elected committee members, who are: Adrian Crocetti, Brad Dalrymple, Paul Dubowski, Courtney Henderson, Riley de Jong, Kelen Marczak Polli, Daniel Rhodes, Owen Richards, Sophie Waldron, Ben Walker, Tina Wang, and Luke Verstraten. These are great stormwater industry representatives, who will serve you well. I have been pleased to see some positive changes in Stormwater Queensland. We have: • reduced the cost of individual membership by nearly 40%. This has helped make it easier to become a member. • increased state company membership but have changed this, so all employees of the company receive discounted benefits and training. This will be become more apparent in the next 6 months. • stabilised cash flow and bank balances, so money is not as tight. • automated the membership portal to make it significantly easier to administer membership. • set up a new communications contract and seen social media engagement rise with some recent posts reaching an audience of over 1,000 people. • increased the appeal of Stormwater Queensland with more people keen to be part of the committee and sub-committees. • created traditions such as Bold Goals evenings where members can come together to mix and celebrate. • held face to face events and awards evenings to celebrate the industries achievements. • joined forces with Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA), Engineers Australia, QMN and universities to help reach and connect to other strong professional networks; and • seen more new members join in the last 3 months than the last 2 years. I acknowledge the committee for their excellent leadership and efforts in helping these achievements come together. We are strong together and I see a bright future ahead. I want to continue the many successes we have had while focussing on the following things in 2025 and 2026: 1. Begin fortnightly free online training for all Stormwater Queensland members. This will comprise of training from the experienced professionals across the state and nationally. I would like this training to be no cost to members (but not free to non-members). 2. I’m very excited for the Queensland Water Summit, planned for February next year. 3. I want to stabilise and strengthen the connections between the other state stormwater organisations; and 4. I want to re-invigorate the Stormwater Australia board with state representatives and ensure we are working together. Thank you again for your great service and support. Kind regards, Mark Gibson | President – Stormwater Queensland