Water NZ Annual Conference 17 – 19 September

Water NZ Annual Conference 17 – 19 September

Implementing Reform

Water New Zealand’s annual conference is being held this week against a backdrop of the General Election.

“Our members are pleased that political parties have released policies on improving the management of freshwater as declining water quality is consistently rated by New Zealanders as being their number one environmental concern,” Murray Gibb, chief executive of Water New Zealand said.

“It is also pleasing to see the early results of the work that Water New Zealand has been closely involved with over the past five years through the Land and Water Forum and other initiatives.”

Therefore the theme of "Implementing Reform" is appropriate at the conference being held at Hamilton's Claudelands convention this week over 17 - 19 September.

Water reforms already implemented in Australia will be discussed in the first two sessions of the conference starting at 9.40 am on Wednesday 17.

Continuing the Water Reform Journey discussing the significant reforms in Australia is the subject of the plenary keynote speaker, Hon Karlene Maywald, Chair of the Australian National Water Commission. The Commission is responsible for oversight, assessment and audit of the States’ implementation of the Australian National Water Initiative and the Murray Darling Basin Plan.

Water Industry Reform in Tasmania 32 - 1 (water management entities) by Mike Brewster, the inaugural CEO of Tasmanian Water (TasWater) follows directly on. TasWater is the state-wide water and sewerage provider in Tasmania.

The New Zealand perspective will be given by Alastair Bisley, the Chairman of the Land and Water Forum. He will comment on the collaborative New Zealand consultation and planning model, and asks the question - where to from here?

The final presentation in this session will be by Richard Ward from Treasury's National Infrastructure Unit - the title of his presentation is A Step Beyond the Same Old: Responding to the Evidence Base.

The conference also has a range of technical presentations, many focussed on regional and urban case studies - such as the Ruataniwha irrigation project, the issues faced with repairing Christchurch's damaged water supply network and rehabilitating the Manawatu Gorge Slip.

Water infrastructure and management reforms in the UK will be discussed by Charlotte Read in her presentation on Implementing Economic Regulation in the UK Water Industry – a 25 year journey: Lessons for the New Zealand Context.

Thursday 18 September’s keynote speaker will be Mark Enzer who will talk about Gobal Water Issues – An Overview. Mark is UK consultancy, Mott Mac Donald’s group practice manager for water and environment. This role is principally about providing strategic leadership and fostering integration across the water and environmental sectors in all the regions in which the company operates.

The programme can be viewed at http://www.waternz.org.nz/Category?Action=View&Category_id=241 click on programme. Or contact Norrey@fwc.co.nz for a pdf.

Ends…/

© Scoop Media