Hurry! Get your BWEP invoices in for payment before the end of the financial year!

Gold Coast businesses have been hard at work implementing water efficient projects in their place of business under the Business Water Efficiency Program. Unless a prior arranged extension has been granted, all projects were due for completion by 30 April 2008. It's time to collect your eligible funds! Please forward all relevant invoices to Carley Smith, Gold Coast Water, PO BOX 5042, GCMC Q 9729 or email csmith@goldcoastwater.com.au. Please allow 30 days for payment from SEQ Water.

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Level 6 water restriction Quarterly Reporting requirements

Under Level 6 water restrictions Non-Residential High Volume Water Users Program, a number of Quarterly Reports must be submitted to Gold Coast Water. The first round of reporting commenced on the 31 March 2008.

For all premises with an annual water consumption greater than 10 ML the Quarterly Report is:

• based on water meter and sub meter data collected on a minimum of a weekly basis.
• to include the progress in implementing water saving project(s) identified in the WEMP Action Plan.
• to be provided to Gold Coast Water within 5 business days of the end of each three month period.
• required to be submitted in the form of the WG-15 Customer Quarterly Report Template.

For all premises operating an Evaporative Cooling Tower the Quarterly report is:

• based on sub meter and conductivity data collected on a minimum of a weekly basis
• to be provided to Gold Coast Water within 5 business days of the end of each three month period
• required to be submitted in the form of the WG-13 Cooling Tower Quarterly Report Template.
• Cooling Towers with an annual water consumption greater than 10 ML will also be required to submit the Customer Quarterly Report Template (WG-15) in addition to WG-13.

For further information regarding Quarterly and Annual Reporting requirements, please contact the Gold Coast Water Customer Contact Centre on 1300 366 692 or visit the Queensland Water Commission website www.qwc.qld.gov.au.

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Uni scholarships for our water future

Gold Coast Water has rewarded three Griffith University students choosing careers in water by funding half scholarships over the next five years. The $45,000 investment supported Council's commitment in the Gold Coast's Waterfuture and encourages future employment in the specialist water arena.

Water remains one of the big issues for governments at all levels. Supporting students to choose careers in this area, and contributing to the costs associated with tertiary study, is a positive step in ensuring the water industry continues to have the required skills and expertise into the future.

The Waterfuture Scholarships aim to encourage high achieving secondary school leavers to choose a degree associated with a water career. Half scholarships of up to $15,000 have been awarded to three outstanding applicants, commencing degrees in Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Civil Engineering and Bachelor of Information technology.

Scholarships were awarded to Christopher Davidson, Andrew Carrigg, Alexander Harkin.

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2008 EPA Sustainable Industries Award
Is your business a leader in sustainable business practices?

Held since 2006, the EPA Sustainable Industries Awards recognise Queensland business leaders, companies and technologies that are setting best-practice benchmarks in environmental performance.

The seven award categories are:

• Industrial Eco-efficiency
• Corporate Sustainability
• Innovation in Sustainable Technologies
• Sustainability in Partnerships Award
• Sustainability in Urban Development or the Built Environment
• Rural Sustainability
  • Resource Industries Sustainability Award
  • Minister's Award for ClimateSmart Leadership

Additionally, there is also the Premier's Award for Leadership in Business Sustainability which recognises outstanding environmental contribution. This is awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the promotion and advancement of business sustainability in Queensland.

Entries have been sought from Queensland businesses, individuals, not-for-profit and community organisations, and local and state governments.

The winners of the 2008 Environmental Protection Agency Sustainable Industries Awards will be presented on 31 October 2008 at a gala dinner on the Gold Coast.

Gold Coast Water wishes the following businesses the best of luck with their submissions for sustainability projects:

• Blembrook Pty Ltd – Coomera Shores
• Blygold Australia – Yatala
• Conrad Jupiters – Broadbeach
• Ecologic International – Burleigh Heads
• EcoVision Solutions Pty Ltd – Elanora
• Forest Restorations – Varsity Lakes
• Gold Coast City Council – Gold Coast
• Gold Coast City Marina – Coomera
• H2O World Wide Water Solutions Pty Ltd – West Burleigh
• HYDRASHEAR – Mount Nathan
• Just Recycle IT Pty Ltd – Elanora
• Krinner Groundscrews Qld – Currumbin
• Rhode Island Body Corporate – Clear Island Waters
• Samsara Furniture and Homewares – Bundall
• Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa – Surfers Paradise
• Sustainable Synergies – Main Beach
• Wormtec – Coombabah

For further information or to purchase tickets to the gala event please visit www.epa.qld.gov.au/siawards or contact EPA Marketing on (07) 3227 7736 or siawards@epa.qld.gov.au.

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Raising staff awareness – positively

When it comes to staff acceptance over a new water reduction program, getting to know your people and earning their trust is an important attribute to establish, prior to expecting their support. Knowing how to approach staff effectively and using encouraging methods towards employees will ensure you are not alone in your water reduction efforts.

Demanding new ways to use and reduce water will probably result in employee retaliation, especially from those who are comfortable doings things a certain way and are not susceptible to change.

Earning employee trust is about making employees feel comfortable that their ideas are going to be respected and heard. Listen to each and every idea and consider the case based on financial and non financial grounds. Should you wish not to implement the idea, be sure to tell your staff why the concept didn't get off the ground. Keeping an open relationship with your employees will ensure the ideas keep coming to you.

Staff education about water use reduction followed by positive reinforcement can be complimented by physical reminders such as Gold Coast Water's complimentary stickers and tent cards. Prompt material assist with keeping water reduction front of mind, which not only helps to conserve our precious resource but will ultimately result in saving money for your business. For more information or to order your supply of materials please email watersaver@goldcoastwater.com.au.

Source: WME Environment Business Magazine, Volume 18, November 2007. www.wme.com.au

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Reaching the mark – What is Smart Approved WaterMark?

The Smart Approved WaterMark is Australia's only water saving labelling program for products and services that help reduce outdoor water use.

It aims to ensure the Australian public is aware of, and actively engaged in, water conservation around the home by:

• Promoting products and services that help conserve water;
• Helping consumers understand often complex water conservation issues; and,
• Championing innovative solutions for sustainable water use around the home.

How can you promote your organisation's efforts towards water conservation?

Polls show that close to 90% of Australian's believe smart technologies are a key solution to reducing water use around the home. By joining the scheme and applying the Smart Approved WaterMark logo to your product or service, you will clearly be advising consumers that the use of those products or services will reduce their water consumption without reducing effectiveness. When designing water saving incentive rebate packages, the Environment Protection and Heritage Council has recently committed to strengthening their support of the Smart Approved WaterMark in their jurisdictions by giving preference to Smart Approved WaterMark-endorsed products.

How do products and services get the Smart Approved WaterMark?

An independent Technical Expert Panel reviews all applications to the scheme against a set of published criteria. Once approved, manufacturers of products or service providers are able to use the logo to promote their product or service. The scheme is overseen by a Steering Committee with representation from Commonwealth and State Governments, water utilities, the four governing associations, and the Chair of the Smart Approved WaterMark Technical Expert Panel.

How to apply

All applications to the scheme are assessed by an independent Technical Expert Panel, consisting of specialists in water conservation. Verifiable, independent evidence that the claimed water savings are achievable, is given particular importance. There are four application rounds a year. Assessment criteria, guidelines, meeting dates and application forms can be found at www.smartwatermark.info.

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AWA's National Water Conference comes to the Gold Coast

This year the Australian Water Association (AWA) held its National Water Conference on the Gold Coast. The Conference ran from 30 March to 2 April and attracted over 300 attendees from all sectors of the Australian water industry. The conference activities were split into three smaller conference themes; Water Education, Water Efficiency and Water Industry Capacity Development.

As a platinum sponsor Gold Coast Water played a central role in the event, including the introductory address and a comprehensive exhibition stand on Gold Coast Water's education programs and initiatives. The attendees displayed particular interest in Gold Coast Water's new primary and secondary school Make Your Water Mark! Watersaver Education Program, as well as our recycled water projects.

Peter Ham, Executive Coordinator Major Projects, delivered two presentations. One on stakeholder engagement and education and a second on his experiences of working with the Pimpama Coomera Alliance.

Gold Coast Water also ran three tours showcasing best practice water efficiency initiatives in our region. These tours included a visit to the northern sugar cane farms that are currently using recycled water, the Beenleigh Carwash to view the facility's water treatment and recycling system and Conrad Jupiter Casino's water efficiency and rainwater harvesting systems.

Response to the conference has been overwhelmingly positive, with attendees reporting that the event was an excellent opportunity to share knowledge, make new contacts and hear about some of the fascinating and innovative projects that are happening around Australia.

For information on AWA's upcoming events and programs visit www.awa.asn.au.

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Complimentary Watersaver materials

Encourage your staff and visitors to be water conscience at your place of business. Gold Coast Water has complimentary bathroom stickers and tent cards that have been tested in a number of marinas, shopping centres and hotels on the Gold Coast, proving to be beneficial in reminding staff & visitors to be water efficient in the bathroom.

These stickers and tent cards also subconsciously reinforce the water conservation message, leading to water efficient behaviour in other areas.

For maximum exposure we recommend you position a sticker above the basin area and on the cistern of each toilet. Please be advised these are non-marking stickers and are therefore suitable to be placed on mirrors.

To place your order simply email watersaver@goldcoastwater.com.au and leave your business name, postal address and the number of stickers you require.

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