We’re committed to updating local water utilities about our programs and other relevant information. This newsletter is distributed monthly to local water utilities across NSW and made available on the local water utilities website. We encourage you to share it with your colleagues who may be interested. If you don’t receive the newsletters, you can subscribe here.

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In October, the department participated in the NSW and ACT Careers Association Conference. High school career advisors from across the state attended to discover more about career opportunities in the water industry for their students.

At the event, nearly 100 career advisors participated in a workshop held by the department’s Local Water Utilities branch, NSW Water Directorate and the Australian Water Association. Additionally, more than 340 conference attendees visited the department’s water careers exhibition stand, where they received informational flyers and resources to share with their students.

During the workshop, industry leaders discussed career opportunities in the water industry and outlined the various training and tertiary pathways into the sector. Topics included the future of the water industry, the circular economy, qualifications, and differing job roles in metropolitan, rural and regional NSW. The 5 speakers shared practical examples by discussing their own career journeys.

Workshop attendees expressed enthusiasm about the various job opportunities in the water industry and emphasised the importance of local water utilities offering opportunities for students to learn about how water is provided to their local communities.

The conference coincided with the launch of a suite of resources on careers in the water industry, which we encourage councils to access. They can be found at the careers in the water industry webpage.

The NSW Government has rolled out up to 900 fee-free vocational training placements to help tackle a shortage of skilled water operators across the state.

The training will help to address a predicted shortage of 1,476 qualified water technicians over the next 4 years.

The fee-free placements will cover a range of programs, including:

The Chair of the Orana Water Utilities Alliance in Western NSW, Doug Moorby, welcomed the training boost, saying there was a desperate need to upskill more people in water operations because councils were struggling to fill vacancies and relying on each other for support to cover staff shortages.

To find out more, visit the improve access to skills and training webpage.

WaterNSW is making significant progress in delivering crucial Dam Safety reports and improving raw water quality. This progress is made possible by $10 million in funding from the NSW Government, aimed at providing extra support to local water utilities.

The funds are being used to speed up the response to audit findings from Dams Safety NSW. It helps local water utilities conduct dam safety and risk assessments to improve compliance with Dams Safety NSW regulations.

There will also be extra support to monitor raw water and identify changes in quality. This allows councils to adjust treatment processes or switch to alternative supplies as needed.

This program is a whole-of-government initiative that combines the strengths of major entities in the water sector to assist local councils. Councils can choose to engage with the skills and knowledge that will best assist them.

The $10 million funding is part of Phase 2 of the Town Water Risk Reduction Program.

The NSW Productivity Commission will review funding arrangements for local water utilities, focusing on remote and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities that have some of the highest water bills and water security risks.

Local water utilities rely solely on water and sewerage charges to fund the operation and maintenance of infrastructure, but 69% have less than 10,000 customers and a third have less than 2,000.

In remote areas, it is becoming harder to deliver services that are sustainable and financially viable. The average annual water bill for people who live in areas with less than 2,000 connections is $1,525 per annum compared with $1,410 in locations with 2,000 to 10,000 connections.

The Productivity Commission will consult with local councils, local water utilities, industry groups, NSW Government agencies and other stakeholders and is expected to complete its recommendations by June 2024. 

Read the media release to 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.