eFlash #590

Date: 07-Feb-2024

NEW / HOT TOPICS

qldwater Submission to PC Inquiry on National Water Reform 2024

qldwater’s submission to the Productivity Commission's inquiry into National Water Reform is now available on our website(members please log in to view). The submission focused on four areas of concern:

skills to ensure access to a basic level of service,
improved planning as one of the NWI modernised objectives (water entitlements and planning advice),
implementing principles for best practice independent economic regulation, and
governance of regional and remote services through QWRAP.

Essentials Webinar: Arc Flash Risks, Causes and Management

Wednesday 29 February 2024 from 10am to 11am

Michael Gibson from Queensland's Electrical Safety Office, will provide information and insights on the risks, causes and management of arc flash. As the Director of Field Services, Michael's key focus is on the promotion of education and training on all matters relating to electrical safety. He supports this through the development and delivery of evidence-based compliance and engagement programs which focuses on ESO’s priority areas.

Essentials Webinar: Land Use Safety Planning for Chlorine Gas Facilities

Thursday 6 March 2024 from 10am to 11am

Ben Fleming, Senior Safety Advisor at the Major Hazard Facilities Unit within the Office of Industrial Relations, will present on land use safety planning for chlorine gas facilities providing an overview of the application of safety and planning regulations to hazardous chemicals, current planning legacy and ideal planning outcomes.

Water Skills Forum

The Queensland Water Skills Partnership is hosting its annual Water Skills Forum on Friday 19 April 2024 at Parliament House in Brisbane. The theme for 2024 is The Urban Water Workforce - Recognition & Resilience.

Join us to hear about progress across a range of workforce and training initiatives.

Inside Water article on Diversity and Inclusion

The latest edition of Inside Water magazine features an article on diversity and inclusion in the Queensland water sector. Read it here.

OTHER NEWS

Funding available for reef water quality projects, natural capital market

The Queensland Government is making up to $5.5 million in funding available for projects aimed at improving water quality in reef catchments.

A further $750,000 is on offer for projects to further develop the natural capital market in Queensland and integrate investments in reef catchments.

Grant Program Guidelines are available here. Applications close at 12pm, Tuesday 30 April, 2024 and can be submitted here,

CURRENT SUBMISSIONS

Queensland Treasury Discussion Paper on the Queensland Government (QG) Carbon Credits Policy

Treasury has prepared a discussion paper is to seek feedback from QG Entities on the opportunities and challenges in implementing the proposed QG Carbon Credits policy. QG Entities includes local governments as non-controlled QG Entities.

The discussion paper poses some specific questions for the implementation of the proposed policy position. If you would like to make a submission to Queensland Treasury, you have until 23 February.

qldwater will be making a submission, and any feedback that you can provide will be appreciated. Please contact lreeves@qldwater.com.au or gdavis@qldwater.com.au.

Download the Discussion Paper here.

Hydrogen Regulatory Review Consultation Paper

The Queensland Government seeks public feedback on the current regulatory environment applicable to hydrogen industry development, the potential barriers, issues and opportunities for effective regulation of hydrogen industry development and the potential options for reform to support effective regulation of the hydrogen industry as it evolves.

Download the consultation paper here.

Review of the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan

The Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan guides how industry, government and the community work together to improve the quality of water flowing to the Great Barrier Reef. A reviewis currently underway to develop a new plan.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is looking for feedback via a five minute survey on how best to engage in the review process and what type of activities and topics would be of interest to you and your community.

Regional Electricity Price Consultation

Ergon and Energex have provided their 2025-30 Regulatory Proposals and Tariff Structure Statements to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).

These documents are now available on their Talking Energy website and are comprised of several interrelated elements, including the Regulatory Proposals, Regulatory Proposal Overviews (plain language summaries), the Tariff Structure Statements, and Tariff Structure Explanatory Statements.

Consultation will open shortly.