Solutions

Precision Greening
- Advanced irrigation management. Think public open space irrigation; crops grown with more yield and less water, less fertiliser and less energy; ecological infrastructure optimising water use and the health of rivers and wetlands. Broader than smart application, precision greening covers delivery, application, sensing, simulation, communications and control.
- The Big Salt Bust
  
  Australian Water Environments (AWE) works extensively in the field of salt interception in recognition of the Australian community’s desire to restore the River Murray.
- Sentek Helps Santos Create Clean Energy
  
  Santos is one of Australia’s leading gas producers, supplying Australian and Asian customers. The growth of the coal seam gas (CSG) sector represents a major opportunity to help Australia and the region move to a cleaner, less carbon-intensive future.
- 1.8 billion litres of water saved
  
  Current estimates reveal that the use of BioCentral’s products PolyCom™, a polymer based material stabilising water additive, and DustChek™, a biodegradable ecologically safe dust suppressant, in the local government and mining sectors has saved approximately 1.8 billion litres of water in three years.
Water Creation
- Diversifying sources of water. Think demand management, rainwater harvesting, wastewater reuse, urban stormwater harvesting, desalination and managed aquifer recharge.
- Leak Busters Save Millions
  
  Australia is enjoying millions of dollars in water savings from advanced water leakage detection and repair programs.
- It's only natural
  
  While global corporations talk of triple bottom line outcomes, the City of Salisbury in Adelaide’s northern suburbs has achieved just that - a sustainable environment, economy and community through Australia’s first integrated water creation management system.
Leading Change
- Creating a different water future. Think independent economic regulation, competition policy, Public Private Partnerships, research and product development, water sector professional development and community education.
- New product development provides entry into French market
  
  Philmac, Adelaide-based innovator and manufacturer of premium quality plastic fittings and valves, has utilised its superior problem solving capabilities in the area of connecting polyethylene pipe to create a unique plastic compression fitting specifically for the French market.
- Global Reach
  
  SMEC is a professional services firm with Australian origins and a global footprint that provides high quality consultancy services on major infrastructure projects.
- Developing World Class Water Leaders
  
  Organisations from around the globe are turning to Australia to train their managers in one of the best water education programs available in the world.
Risk Proofing
- Managing future risks and decision support. Think managing water quality in harsh conditions, market based water trading systems, exploring the nexus of energy and water, advanced social, environmental and economic scenario modelling and optimisation.
- Resources Sector Chooses EnviroSys
  
  Companies within the mining, oil and gas industries rely heavily on water. It is critical that this precious resource is managed responsibly in order for them to maintain their licence to operate.
- What is smart water pricing?
  
  An effective and fair water pricing policy is a challenge water utilities and governments are grappling with around the world as they try to develop water pricing that is sensitive to community affordability, generate sufficient revenue to maintain and invest in providing safe, reliable water, while also engaging users by rewarding water efficiency.
- Dealing with future water uncertainty
  
  If it wasn’t for the option of water trading many Australian irrigators would not have been able to access water and continue to produce crops during recent years of low water availability.

Developing World Class Water Leaders

Organisations from around the globe are turning to Australia to train their managers in one of the best water education programs available in the world.

According to Richard Hopkins, Chief Executive of ICE WaRM, the International Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Management based in Adelaide, Australia’s willingness to share information openly combined with its unrivalled water expertise, makes it the ideal place for learning.

“Australia has traditionally been seen as a leader in water expertise because we have overcome a lot of challenges, now including climate change impacts, and we have done it very transparently,” Richard says. “We are comfortable with sharing our successes and failures for the benefit of other people’s learning.”

ICE WaRM was established in 2004 under a Commonwealth grant to draw international scholars to Australia and act as a channel to world-class education, training and research in water management, delivered by a consortium of Australian institutions.

It has been so successful that it is no longer reliant on seed funding and is now a self sustaining organisation. One of its keys to success has been its focus on professional development programs for international water managers and students. “It is very important to us that participants in our programmes return to their home countries with not only water resources management skills, but the ability to share their knowledge locally,” Richard says.

“In a six week professional development program, 25 per cent of the participants’ time is spent reflecting on how they can apply the skills they’ve learnt to their own environment and how they can share their knowledge locally.

“It is a unique approach and has been very well accepted.”

Richard says the role of ICE WaRM has expanded in the last five years from simply being an education broker, to being much more involved with creating sustainable water industries in Australia and overseas.

“We are now a lot more involved in the national water agenda including providing advice to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) on water skills in Australia and supplementing our courses for particular Australian skills needs.

“We are still servicing the international market in education and training but in addition to this we are now more focused on international partnerships.”

One of ICE WaRM’s export successes has been the capacity development it has facilitated for the Mekong River Commission’s National Mekong Committees, government agencies and national universities through short courses, study tours and workshops. The first such program involved 45 delegates from four countries in the Mekong Sub-Region - Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand who studied Australian water resources management techniques, policy and governance, particularly trans-boundary issues.

The first programme was a great success and has led to similar initiatives in 2009 and 2010 with more planned in the future. “We are hoping to make these programmes regular events,” Richard says.

Another example of tangible success can be seen in ICE WaRM’s industry placement program where international students spend a short or long term placement in an Australian water business.

“This is an area where we strongly encourage more Australian water businesses to get involved.”

If your business would like to know more about the education and training opportunities available to water professionals in Australia visit www.icewarm.com.au.

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