DWQMP Implementation

The implementation of the DWQMP is the responsibility of the General Manager, Water and Resource Recovery, supported by key operational staff and subject matter experts.

Officers responsible for the implementation of the DWQMP meet quarterly to review the verification monitoring program, drinking water incidents, customer complaints and risk management improvement items.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE DWQMP AND DRINKING WATER QUALITY POLICY

Council maintains a current version of the DWQMP on its corporate document management system and is available to all relevant staff. A Drinking Water Quality General Policy, endorsed by the Chief Executive Officer,

“to establish and maintain a Drinking Water Quality Management System consistent with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines”, is maintained.

The policy assigns responsibility for the management of drinking water quality to all Water and Waste staff whilst acknowledging that corporate responsibility lies with the management team and ultimately with the Chief Executive Officer.

The policy is available to the public via the following link: https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_ file/0011/9200/LIVE-1512851-v7-Drinking_Water_Quality_ General_Policy.pdf

TRAINING OF STAFF

Council recognises that staff awareness training is a critical element of the system. The DWQMP commits to awareness training of staff through internal information sessions. Early in 2020/21 the Drinking Water Quality Management Systems (12 Elements) awareness training continued. Additional training activities were somewhat restricted because of COVID restrictions on site access. A review of the training schedule is currently being completed to formalise the various forms of training required for individual staff. The review resulted in the following training planned for 2022: • Drinking Water Quality Duty of Care (internal) • Drinking Water Quality Incident Management (internal) • Introduction to the Framework for Management of

Drinking Water Quality (externally provided)

ATTENDANCE AT DEPARTMENT TRAINING AND INDUSTRY CONFERENCES

Council staff participate in industry training events and conferences to maintain professional development and to network with contemporaries from across the water sector.

Events attended in the 2020/2021 reporting period include:

• FNQROC Water Sub-group Meetings

• RDMW Cyber Security Forum on 26 May 2021

• RDMW Water Supply Regulation Forum Cairns on 24

March 2021

• Qldwater Directorate Conference 2020