program being included in the professional development for water corporation boards and senior executives. The Department, in consultation with VicWater, will be undertaking this professional development program on dam safety and emergency management for corporation boards and senior executives in early 2017. This will be undertaken in Melbourne and two regional locations. Skills / Knowledge / Awareness The Committee continues its practical support for and input to industry training courses and workshops on dam safety management. The Department has developed a recognised and respected reputation nationally and internationally for its range of publications on dam safety principles and practices. These are freely available through its website. In addition, the Department continues to sponsor a number of well attended workshops for practitioners on specific risk management topics. During this reporting period, the Department made arrangements to sponsor a seminar on dam safety and emergency management. The seminar is scheduled to be held in early 2017and will be organised with VicWater’s and the Victorian Water Industry Dams Working Group’s assistance. The Committee continues to emphasise the need to ensure availability of skilled resources across bodies responsible for dam safety. This is an issue which should be kept under review in order to ensure that the essential skill base is retained and effectively used by dam owners. Awareness of Relevant Public Inquiries and Significant Government Initiatives The Department has kept the Committee informed of relevant developments and possible implications of a of contemporary public inquiries and processes with potential impact on the management of dams. These included: dam safety regulation developments in NSW following the Parliamentary Review of the NSW Dam Safety Committee and the Dam Safety Act 2015 (NSW); Victorian Floodplain Management Strategy; for Victoria (Water Plan); and Reform in Victoria’s emergency management sector. The Committee and the Department will continue to monitor the outcomes and implementation of the Dam Safety Act 2015 (NSW) to identify lessons and feedback for Victoria on dam safety regulation practices.
program being included in the professional development for water corporation boards and senior executives. The Department, in consultation with VicWater, will be undertaking this professional development program on dam safety and emergency management for corporation boards and senior executives in early 2017. This will be undertaken in Melbourne and two regional locations. Skills / Knowledge / Awareness The Committee continues its practical support for and input to industry training courses and workshops on dam safety management. The Department has developed a recognised and respected reputation nationally and internationally for its range of publications on dam safety principles and practices. These are freely available through its website. In addition, the Department continues to sponsor a number of well attended workshops for practitioners on specific risk management topics. During this reporting period, the Department made arrangements to sponsor a seminar on dam safety and emergency management. The seminar is scheduled to be held in early 2017and will be organised with VicWater’s and the Victorian Water Industry Dams Working Group’s assistance. The Committee continues to emphasise the need to ensure availability of skilled resources across bodies responsible for dam safety. This is an issue which should be kept under review in order to ensure that the essential skill base is retained and effectively used by dam owners. Awareness of Relevant Public Inquiries and Significant Government Initiatives The Department has kept the Committee informed of relevant developments and possible implications of a of contemporary public inquiries and processes with potential impact on the management of dams. These included: dam safety regulation developments in NSW following the Parliamentary Review of the NSW Dam Safety Committee and the Dam Safety Act 2015 (NSW); Victorian Floodplain Management Strategy; for Victoria (Water Plan); and Reform in Victoria’s emergency management sector. The Committee and the Department will continue to monitor the outcomes and implementation of the Dam Safety Act 2015 (NSW) to identify lessons and feedback for Victoria on dam safety regulation practices.
Dam-Safety-Advisory-Committee-Annual-Report-2016.docx