Your business’s triple bottom line

Conserving water in your business has many key benefits, financially, environmentally and socially. Overall, it assists your business’s triple bottom line!

It also helps to sustain our future water supplies in a rapidly growing Gold Coast City. This is critical to maintaining our sustainable lifestyle, economy and unique environment.

As we enter the new fiscal year, like all businesses and their costs, the price of water has changed. Water pricing is volumetric, therefore your water bill depends on your business’s water consumption. Impacts on your business’s operating expenses may vary, depending on what action your business takes to conserve water.

By implementing the following initiatives, you can help save water in and around your business.

• Appoint a staff member to manage water conservation.
• Display water conservation messages around the workplace.
• Share water saving objectives and results with staff.
• Place a suggestions box in a common area and encourage staff to submit their water saving ideas.
• Establish a system to report and record leaks.
• Repair all leaks and dripping taps promptly.
• Install dual flush toilets, water efficient urinals and flow controlled aerators on taps.
• Use a trigger hose, bucket or water can when watering the garden or washing the car.
• Use a broom to sweep paved outdoor areas instead of hosing them down.

Water consumption is calculated for the previous six months, so you will notice the impact of any water you save now on your January 2010 rates notice.

For more tips about how to reduce your water consumption please visit www.goldcoastwater.com.au or call 1300 366 692.

For further information about changes to the water industry and the impact this has on water pricing please visit www.qwc.qld.gov.au.

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Complimentary Business Watersaver materials

There are many things you can do to save water in your business. One simple way is to let staff and visitors know what they can do to be water efficient.

Gold Coast Water can send you complimentary stickers for your bathrooms and kitchens, as well as a poster for you to put up explaining the purpose of the stickers to your staff.

To place an order simply email the following details to watersaver@goldcoastwater.com.au.

• business name and industry
• postal address
• contact number, and
• the number of stickers and posters you require

For more Business Watersaver ideas visit www.goldcoastwater.com.au/watersaver.

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Changes to WEMP and Cooling Tower reporting

Under Queensland Water Commission (QWC) water restrictions, all businesses with an annual water consumption greater than 10 mega litres (ML) must have a Water Efficiency Management Plan (WEMP). To date, WEMP and cooling tower reports have been required by the QWC on a quarterly basis. However, to help reduce the regulatory burden on businesses, these reports are now required to be submitted on an annual basis only.

Important!

All 2009 reports must be submitted by 13 October 2009.

How to submit your annual reports

Your 2009 reports must be submitted to your Water Service Provider (WSP), Gold Coast Water, using the following templates.

1. WEMP reports: WG-16 Customer Annual Report Template
2. Cooling tower reports: WG-14 Customer Annual Cooling Tower Report Template

Both templates are available from the QWC website – www.qwc.qld.gov.au

You must provide in your annual report:

1. sufficient water meter and/or cooling tower data
2. the progress made on the projects identified in your WEMP during the reporting year

For further information regarding annual reporting, please visit www.qwc.qld.gov.au or, if you would prefer a Gold Coast Water Customer Liaison Officer attend your business to provide assistance in completing an annual report, please contact Gold Coast Water’s Customer Contact Centre on 1300 366 692 to arrange an appointment.

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Plumbers to tour Pimpama Recycled Water Treatment Plant

Plumbers installing dual reticulated pipes and taps at homes and businesses in the Pimpama Coomera region are invited to attend a special behind the scenes site tour of the Pimpama Recycled Water Treatment Plant next month.

This tour will be a unique experience for plumbers who are required to connect all new homes in the Pimpama Coomera region to three different sources of water - drinking water, rainwater and Class A+ recycled water.

The site tour will help attendees to better understand the Class A+ recycled water treatment process and the distribution process from the plant to the pipe and then to the tap. Up to date information on installation practices and the seven step dual reticulation check to ensure all properties are properly connected, will also be provided to attendees during the tour.

If you are a plumber and are interested in attending this site tour, please contact PCWF Community Relations and Stakeholder Management team member, Leona Kelly on 5596 9630.

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Residents learn about Class A+ Recycled Water

Community Open Day

A community open day at the Pimpama Recycled Water Treatment Plant on Sunday 16 August has attracted hundreds of Pimpama Coomera residents.

The community day was held to celebrate the upcoming delivery of Class A+ recycled water and to teach residents about the Class A+ recycled water treatment process. Guests took part in site tours, learnt more about water sustainability and were treated to a free sausage sizzle.

Council’s Water Management Chair and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Daphne McDonald says the open day was the perfect opportunity for families to learn more about how recycled water is produced.

“Families who attended are now able to better understand the Class A+ recycled water treatment process and how to make the most of this unique water source,” Cr McDonald said.

“Over 3000 homes will soon receive Class A+ recycled water, so it is vital that they are well educated about its uses in outdoor areas and for toilet flushing,”

“We are now entering a very exciting time for Pimpama and Coomera residents, with the launch of Class A+ recycled water on its way later this year.”

Community Displays

Meanwhile, a series of Community Displays have been held in the Pimpama Coomera region, attracting hundreds of interested community members.

The Community Displays were set up at a variety of locations, including the Coles shopping complex at Coomera, Coomera City Centre and the Master Builders Display Village at Upper Coomera.

Community members received valuable information about Class A+ recycled water and team members were available to answer questions about the project.

An additional round of Community Displays will be held in the coming months. Further details will be available at www.goldcoastwater.com.au/pimpamacoomera.

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Community Recycle Phone Program

To celebrate and raise awareness for National Water Week, 18 – 24 October 2009, Gold Coast Water is implementing the Community Recycle Phone Program.

The program is designed to encourage the Gold Coast community to donate their unused mobile phones, BlackBerrys, Palm Pilots, iPods, PDAs and accessories (batteries, chargers) at Gold Coast City Council drop off points throughout the city.

This will help reduce the leakage of environmentally hazardous materials into the environment and raise $5.00 for WaterAid Australia or the Animal Welfare League.

Two boxes for each charity are located at the drop-off points below:

• Coomera Police Station
  - 11 De Barnett Street, Coomera (8:00am-3:00pm, Monday to Friday)
• Office of Councillor Grant Pforr: Division 3
  - Corner Falkinder Avenue and Bayview Street, Paradise Point
• Runaway Bay Library – Lae Drive, Runaway Bay
• Southport Branch Office – Nerang St, Southport
• Southport Library – Corner Garden and Lawson Streets, Southport
• Nerang Administration Centre – Southport Nerang Road, Nerang
• Surfers Paradise Administration Centre – Bundall Road, Bundall
• Robina Library – Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina
• Office of Councillor Greg Betts: Division 12
  - Corner Ocean Street and Park Avenue, Burleigh Heads
• Burleigh Heads Library - Park Avenue, Burleigh Heads
• Palm Beach Library - 11th Avenue, Palm Beach
• Coolangatta Library - Griffith Street, Coolangatta

WaterAid Australia is an international charity dedicated to helping some of the world's poorest people escape the stranglehold of poverty and disease caused by living without safe water and sanitation.

Animal Welfare League specialises in the care, shelter and re-homing of approximately 12,000 strayed and abandoned dogs and cats annually from the Gold Coast and surrounding areas.

Help save the environment and raise money for WaterAid Australia and the Animal Welfare League in the lead up to National Water Week!

Please find out more at www.goldcoastwater.com.au/communityrecyclephones or contact Gold Coast Water on 1300 366 692 or email: waterinfo@goldcoastwater.com.au

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Sustainable Gardening Workshops – new schedule

Following the popularity of the Sustainable Gardening Workshops held earlier this year, further sessions have been organised.

Who should attend: Any business or home with a garden or landscaped area.

Cost: Free to all participants.

At the Sustainable Gardening Workshops you will learn:

• how to reduce household solid waste through composting
• ways to save water using techniques such as mulching and plant grouping
• the benefits of worm farming
• how to create the conditions your plants need to thrive

Workshops will be held from 10am to 12pm at the following locations:

September 12	Jacobs Well Community Centre Bay Street, Jacobs Well
September 26	Paradise Point Community Hall Paradise Point
October 3	Robina Library Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina
October 17	Carrara Community Centre Nielsens Road, Carrara
October 31	Burleigh Waters Community Centre Christine Avenue, Burleigh
November 7	Tugun Community Centre Coolangatta Road, Tugun
November 21	Nerang Bicentennial Community Centre Nerang Southport Road, Nerang
December 5	Helensvale Community Centre South Hall, Discovery Drive, Helensvale

Bookings are essential. To register phone (07) 3488 9660 or for more information visit www.goldcoastwater.com.au/watersaver.

Achieve positive and sustainable outcomes for the environment and your garden!

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Queensland to host Australia’s biggest water gathering

Queensland will be at the centre of the national water debate next March, when Brisbane hosts Ozwater ’10 - Australia’s largest water conference and exhibition.

Thousands of water sector professionals, researchers, consultants and environmental experts from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the United States will gather in Brisbane from 8-10 March 2010 to profile the projects, technologies and practices that will feature in an increasingly challenging and demanding era of water management.

Held in parallel with the conference will be the Ozwater ‘10 Trade Exhibition. This exhibition will showcase the latest water industry science, products, services, technology and innovation. It is a ‘must attend’ event on the water industry calendar. Organisations wishing to be involved are invited to contact Tanya Webeck, Exhibition Sales Manager on (02) 9467 8408 or email twebeck@awa.asn.au.

For more information on Ozwater ’10 visit www.ozwater10.com.au.

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2009 Queensland Sustainable Industries Awards

The winners of the 2009 Queensland Sustainable Industries Awards were announced on Friday 12 June at a gala dinner in Brisbane.

Gold Coast Water would like to congratulate the following local business projects on their success.

• ARUP - Bond University Mirvac School of Sustainable Development
  Sustainability in the Built Environment Award
• Mitchell Environmental Industrial Estate, Stapylton
  Industrial Eco-efficiency Award
• Bob and Christine Cameron, Rockcote Enterprises
  Premier's Award for Leadership in Business Sustainability

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

Other winners at this year’s Queensland Sustainable Industries Awards included:

• Food Connect
  Minister’s Award for ClimateSmart Leadership
• Queensland Complete Printing Services (QPrint)
  Corporate Sustainability Award
  
• Cooee Products
  Innovation in Sustainable Technologies Award
• Noosa Community Training Centre
  Sustainability Partnerships Award
• Camreay Holdings
  Rural Sustainability Award

Visit the 2009 Queensland Sustainable Industries Awards for more information.

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2009 Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards

Winners of the May 2009 awards

Every month until October, the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards is acknowledging outstanding businesses in each of the following categories:

• Manufacturing and Construction
• Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation
• Retail, Wholesale and Distribution
• Information Technology and Multimedia
• Trades, Professions and Services
• Family Business
• Emerging Business
• Mayor's Innovation GC
• Environmental Management

Now in its second year, the Environmental Management Award is open to businesses across all sectors who have implemented good environmental practices, not just those in the environmental industry.

All monthly winners will become finalists for the Major Awards, to presented at a Black Tie Gala at Conrad Jupiter's in November.

For details on the May, June and July award recipients or to enter the 2009 Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards visit www.goldcoastbusinessawards.com.au or contact Lisa Maddison on 1300 887 206.

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Subscribe / unsubscribe

You have been sent a copy of this Water Biz eNewsletter as a key business on the Gold Coast. To be removed from this mailing list or update your details, please email your request to either unsubscribe or update.

If a business associate would like to subscribe to this eNewsletter, they should email their request to watersaver@goldcoastwater.com.au.

To subscribe to other Gold Coast Water eNewsletters visit our eNewsletter subscriptions webpage.

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Contact us

We value your feedback for comment and enquiries.

Email: watersaver@goldcoastwater.com.au

Website: www.goldcoastwater.com.au/watersaver

Phone: Gold Coast Water Customer Contact Centre 1300 366 692

Post: Gold Coast City Council, PO Box 5042, Gold Coast MC Queensland 9729

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• © 2009 Gold Coast City Council
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