Charleigh pictured with Gunnedah Shire Council colleague Janette Briggs.
School-based trainee Charleigh with Gunnedah Shire Council colleague Janette Briggs.
5 questions with Charleigh about a school-based traineeship at Gunnedah Shire Council
Meet Charleigh, a year 11 student from Gunnedah High School who shares her experience studying a Certificate II in Water Industry Operations at Gunnedah Shire Council.

Starting the 2-year course in 2024, Charleigh highlights the significance of school-based traineeships as a pathway for young people to explore the diverse career opportunities in the water industry.

1. What are you enjoying most so far about working in water?
What I am enjoying so far is learning how to test the water, which means when we test it, we can see how much chlorine is in the water. I also enjoy learning lots of other things such as how all the pumps and reservoirs work and run.
2. What has been challenging so far about working in water?
To be honest, nothing yet. It's all a learning process so I'm being taught different things and they're pretty easy to do. So, I’m learning new skills.
3. What would say to other young people about careers in water?
Don’t be afraid to get out there and have a go, the group of people you work with are amazing no matter where you are or what council you work at! You may find it hard at first to understand the concept of it but once you get the hang of it, it’s easy.
4. Do you have a career goal in water?
Yes! To complete my Certificate II in Water Industry Operations and hopefully continue in the job for a further career.
5. What has surprised you so far about working in water?
How much learning and listening you have to do to complete a job and how many different steps it takes to test water to see how much chlorine is in it.

Find out more about careers in the water industry on our website.
 
 
Cover of the showcase day toolkit
Want to host a water industry event? Read the water industry showcase toolkit
 
Last year, the department held a water industry showcase day at Calala Water Treatment Plant for local jobseekers and high school students to learn about water industry careers.

Attendees got a behind-the-scenes look at the plant, took part in hands-on activities such as water quality testing, and heard from industry professionals.

Over 50 students attended, leading to nearly 30 expressing interest in work experience and 4 traineeships. The event was even covered in local media.

The overall success of the day resulted in local water utilities expressing an interest in hosting similar events.

We’re excited to share a water industry showcase day toolkit we developed to help local water utilities host similar events.
A laptop screen with the word webinar showing
Join our webinar on blue-green algae on Thursday 9 May
 
You are invited to a webinar addressing blue-green algae water quality issues in local water utilities on Thursday 9 May at 11 am.

The webinar will cover the strategic and operational considerations local water utilities can take when seeking to understand and manage water quality, with a case study on blue-green algae blooms.

The webinar will provide an overview of the department’s water quality expectation under the Regulatory and Assurance Framework and its related guidance document. From this, blue-green algae blooms will be explained, with a focus on strategic and operational best practices for preventing and addressing their impacts in water quality.
 
A question-and-answer session will be held at the end of the webinar. We will try to answer all your questions in the time allocated. However, for those questions we cannot address on the day, we will respond after the event.  

Webinar details
Date: Thursday 9 May 2024
Time: 11 am – 12 pm
Where: Online (Teams)
Register: Sign up to join the webinar

This webinar is part of a series to better connect local water utilities and the department, share the latest information and hear your feedback. 

If you missed our first two webinars on works approvals and strategic planning, recordings will be published soon on the local water utilities website.
 
 
The department's Joe Hutchins (right) working with staff on site at a local water utility
Team on road to support local water utilities
The department’s Advanced Operational Support (AOS) program team has spent more than four weeks on the ground at local water utilities in regional areas recently, supporting staff to reduce risks to drinking water quality. 

The intensive visits are part of Operational Improvement Opportunities Plans that have been developed in collaboration with 10 local water utilities in regional and rural areas. 

These plans include a total of over 400 actions to optimise treatment plant performance and reduce public health risks to drinking water. 

To help implement the plans, 4 intensive week-long Water Treatment Plant site support visits have been completed and another six will be completed by the end of the year. 

One example of support provided during a recent site visit was to address algae, which had been a persistent problem at a water treatment plant. The AOS team worked with staff and together they created a strategy to tackle the algae, optimising the chemical treatment to manage the algae and mitigate taste and odour issues it can create. 
 
Jane Shepherd, Director, Local Water Utilities said the feedback received so far about the level of support provided and value added during the site visits had been extremely positive, particularly about the benefits of working with AOS to quickly get on the front foot to address technical and operational problems.  

“The plans provided by AOS provide a path forward and that has been a great relief to staff who are working hard, often with limited resources, to provide safe drinking water to their communities,” she said. 

“These improvement plans are developed on-site through in-depth investigation and working collaboratively with water operators and allied regulators. 

“The AOS team tailor and customise support, using the department’s technical resources and expertise, to meet the specific needs of each local water utility. 

“This work is all about building good relationships and trust with local water utilities in collaboration with NSW Health and working together to give the support that is needed to improve operations and reduce risks.   

“So far, the AOS team has spent over 120 days on site and there are many more to come.” 

Find out more about the AOS program on our website.
 
 
A bird's eye view of a water treatment plant
Update on Safe and Secure Water Program
 
The Safe and Secure Water Program continues to roll out projects working with over 90 Local Water Utilities to improve water quality, water security, environmental outcomes and support strategic planning in rural communities.    
 
There are a number of projects currently being finalised that will benefit communities. 
 
To date, the program is supporting over $1 billion worth of projects across the state, with 274 in various stages of delivery.

These include:  
 
  • Berrigan Shire Council has opened an upgraded water treatment plant at Finley that delivers reliable high quality treated town drinking water that will meet the future needs of the community and town growth. 
  • Bathurst City Council has completed a major safety upgrade to the Winburndale Dam. The dam operates as a reliable second water source for Bathurst, supplying raw water for recreational areas and industrial use. The upgrade is the largest since the dam was built in the 1930s.   
  • Tenterfield Shire Council has completed construction of a new 2.6 ML/d water treatment plant to replace the ageing water treatment plant. The new plant was jointly funded by the Safe and Secure Water Program, which contributed $7 million, and the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, which contributed $2.62 million.
  • Cootamundra-Gundagai Council has completed an upgrade of the Gundagai Sewage Treatment Plant thanks to $10 million in co-funding from the NSW Government.   
For more information about the program, visit the Safe and Secure Water Program webpage. 
 
 
A truck carrying pipes
Funding opportunity for priority water infrastructure projects in regional and remote NSW
 
The NSW Government is calling for expressions of interest to participate in the Australian Government’s June 2024 National Water Grid funding round.  

This call is an open and competitive process to identify water infrastructure projects which can deliver long-term benefits and value for money in regional and remote NSW. 

Local councils, water utilities, irrigation organisations, First Nations organisations, private corporations and science agencies are eligible to apply for funding for priority water infrastructure projects.  

Funding proposals must demonstrate how projects will provide long-term benefit to water security, the agriculture and primary industry sectors, regional economic development and/or water supply resilience. 

The department will assess expressions of interest for eligibility, identify those who meet the funding criteria, and work with shortlisted organisations to help develop funding applications for consideration by the Australian Government. 

Visit the NSW National Water Grid Fund applications webpage for information about how to apply. Expressions of interest must be submitted by Monday 13 May, 11 pm (AEST) for the June 2024 funding round. 
a water treatment plant
Find out more
We oversee the delivery of water and sewerage services by local water utilities, as well as the management of water service risks. Visit the local water utilities website for more information.
 
contact us image of a person using a mobile phone
Contact us
1300 081 047
(business hours)
Send us a message