This financial year we have 57 of the 59 new and amalgamated Councils, 9 of 14 indigenous Councils as well as the Gladstone Area Water Board and Wide Bay Water as members. The benefits of an independent Water Directorate are:

• support in technical and operational issues (particularly for small Councils),
• improved technical representation in policy formulation through LGAQ,
• specialised technical input to State and Commonwealth Government,
• standard documentation,
• reduced duplication by members in documentation, procedures, etc., and 
• improved co-operation among urbane water service providers.

The Queensland Water Directorate (qldwater) has been working with LGAQ and the Queensland Government to streamline submission of water data by Water Service Providers to meet Queensland Government reporting requirements.

We have rationalised the data required from more than 900 indicators to 170 indicators that meet the requirements of several Queensland Government Departments and offer value to Water Service Providers in managing the operation and maintenance of their services.

We have also developed an online data portal, making it easier for councils to submit data and meet Queensland Government reporting requirements.  SWIM online has been developed to deliver benefits to Councils who use it, in addition to delivering reports for reporting to the Queensland Government. 

We are now working with the Bureau of Meteorology and NRW to modify SWIM to act as the vehicle for data required to be reported under the Water Regulations 2008 and for the National Performance Report for Urban Utilities.

More information about the SWIM project is available from the SWIM online website http://www.swim.qldwater.com.au/ or by contacting Regina at qldwater on 07 3252 4701 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it