1.1 Appointed members only

1.2 Acknowledgement of country and welcome

1.3 Apologies - Ross Carter

1.4 Conflicts of Interest / Disclosure of Interest - Alex Fisher advised that she would be commencing a new short term project relating to Warragamba Dam

Action 20210704-01: DSNSW to note conflict of interest in register.

1.5 Previous minutes and actions

Minutes and actions were accepted.

Action 20210704-02: DSNSW to address aging actions.

Strategy/Stakeholder

Matters for Decision

2.1 Declared Dam order 2021

An overview of dams to be declared and de-declared under the Declared Dams Order 2021 was presented by Jason Porter.

Declared dam Order 2021 was endorsed by Members and approved by Chair.

Action 20210704-03: DSNSW to undertake a comparative analysis of how we manage tailings dams within our legislative framework against the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management and other Australian jurisdictions.

2.2 Very low and low consequence dams over 15m

Peter Boyd presented an overview of the twenty-two declared dams that are over 15m and have either low or very low consequence. Following discussions, it was agreed by Members that DSNSW consider comments provided by the Members and present in future paper.

Action 20210704-04: DSNSW to present a future paper providing Members with more information (i.e. pros and cons of not keeping very low and low consequence dams over 15 metres declared).

Action: 20210704-05: DSNSW to prepare a review on what constitutes a good robust risk consequence category assessment and develop an internal guide to ensure integrity of consequence category assessments moving forward.

Matters for discussion

2.3 Strategic risk deep dive – inadequate response to a major safety incident.

Peter Boyd presented the strategic risk deep dive paper. Following a lengthy discussion, it was agreed by the Members that a more explicit process (and supporting decision making guidelines) is required for the “step in” process.

Action 20210704-06: DSNSW to update Major Occurrence Response Plan to include “step in” process.

Action 20210704-07: DSNSW to run desktop emergency exercise (including “step in” process).

Action 20210704-08: DSNSW to update Item 6 of the strategic risk Deep dive document (media communication) to include the Chair.

Matters for Noting Nil.

Governance

Matters for Decision

Nil

Matters for Discussion

Nil

Matters for Noting

3.1 Review of value to prevent a fatality and its application in the context of Dam Safety.

Peter Boyd presented Peter Abelson’s review of the value to prevent a fatality and its application in the context of Dam Safety. Following a lengthy discussion DSNSW to consider comments provided by the Members and present in future paper.

Action 20210704-09: DSNSW to consider comments provided by the Members and present in future paper on the value to prevent a fatality and its application in context of dam safety.

Operations

Matters for Noting

4.1 CEO Report

CEO report presented by Chris Salkovic.

Members agreed to meet face to face every second meeting.

Action 20210704-10: DSNSW to send members a copy of the Annual Standards Annual Report Fact sheet (For Information only).

Action 20210704-11: DSNSW to send placeholder for July face to face meeting

4.2 Key Performance Indicators and Projects

Action - Nil

4.3 Capability maturity assessment of Dam Owners

Akber Akber presented an update on the capability maturity assessment of declared dam owners and highlighted that findings are now being based on face to face audits.

Action 20210704-12: DSNSW to present a discussion paper to members at the next meeting on how capability maturity assessment outputs will be used moving forward.

4.4 Operations Update

Asim Chohan presented the operations update.

Action 20210704-13: DSNSW to further categorise non-compliances according to their criticality.

4.5 Dams above safety threshold

Jason Porter presented an overview of the dams above the safety threshold.

Action 20210704-14: DSNSW to include in any future communications how they will work with declared dam owners to ensure early notification of non-compliances (and potential non compliances) to support owners to address these.

General Business

Meeting with Minister Pavey postponed due to flood event. Meeting rescheduled for 27 April 2021.

Action 20210704-15: CEO to prepare a simple budget impact analysis brief and circulate to members.

Meeting Finalisation

6.1 Review actions taken – completed

6.2 Meeting evaluation – by Alex Fisher.

6.3 Next meeting – 18 May - Virtual

6.4 Meeting closed – 1.50pm