August 2023 Board meeting minutes

Dams Safety NSW Board Meeting No 34

28 August 2023

Location: virtual

Time: xxxxxx

Attendees:

Members

Mr Paul O’Connor (Chair), Ms Julie Garland McLellan (Deputy Chair), Mr Shane McGrath, Mr Ian Landon-Jones, Mr Chris Salkovic (CEO)

Invitees:

Ms Margaret Hynes, Mr Peter Boyd, Ms Claire Hendley (Secretariat)

Item	Discussion and actions
1	Meeting open 1.1 Acknowledgement of country 1.2 Apologies and absences Ms Julie McLellan joined the meeting at 4.34pm 1.3 Declarations of interest Nil 1.4 Previous minutes 23 May 2023 addendum Members discussed the need to amend Item 1.1.2 should be amended to name the provider undertaking the governance effectiveness review. Action: 20232808-01: Secretariat to update item 1.1.2. Previous minutes – 25 July 2023 Appointed members discussed the minutes and recommended several changes. Action: 20232808-02: Secretariat to make necessary amendments and circulate for final review.
2	Strategy/Stakeholder engagement There were no papers in this section.
3	Governance Matters for decision 3.1. Risk management framework Paper taken as read. Appointed members acknowledged an inherent structural constraint with adopting the department’s risk management framework (i.e., it has limitations with insensitivity to probability). Appointed members noted active engagement with management would mitigate this risk and suggested a footnote be inserted on Page 5. Appointed Members approved the framework, subject to insertion of footnote. Action: 20232808-03: Management to insert footnote on Page 5 “The likelihood of a dam failure is much lower than the Department’s risk matrix ‘rare’ likelihood statement” 3.2 Societal risk safety threshold operational definition The paper was taken as read. Appointed members discussed the proposed operational definition and agreed further refinement was necessary and to take account of earlier work undertaken by the NSW Dams Safety Committee and the insights presented under Commentary Section 10 of the 2022 ANCOLD Risk Assessment Guidelines. Action: 20232808-04: Management to refine the definition and present an updated version at the October 2023 meeting. 3.3 DSNSW’s role in regulating how dam owners carry out flood releases for gated dams The paper was taken as read. The appointed members approved the policy position that DSNSW regulate the operating protocols and procedures in a declared dam’s operations and maintenance plan to protect the dam from failure in the event of a flood event.
4	Operations There were no papers in this section.
5	General business 5.1 Staffing update The CEO advised appointed members of the resignation Mr Muhammad Akber, Operations Manager who is relocating overseas for family reasons. Two principals (Mr Rajan Khati and Ms Jackie Mardling) will share acting arrangements pending backfill of the role. Appointed members acknowledged Mr Muhammad Akber’s service and contributions to Dams Safety NSW. Action: 20232808-05: The Chair to send letter of acknowledgment to Mr Muhammad Akber. 5.2 Funding strategy update The CEO provided an update on the funding strategy. Following discussions, appointed members agreed the CEO is to seek guidance from the Minister and the Department of Planning and Environment on budget options. 5.3 Annual report update Ms Margaret Hynes advised appointed members the draft Annual Report was ready for review. Action: 20232808-6: Management to upload draft Annual Report for appointed members to review. 5.4 Appointed member recruitment update Chair advised appointed members interviews for the new position will be held soon ahead of recommendations to Minister Jackson.
6	Meeting finalisation 6.1 The next meeting is scheduled for 6 October 2023 in Tamworth. 6.2 The meeting closed at 5:37pm. Upcoming meeting – 14 November 2023

28 August 2023

3.2 Societal risk safety threshold operational definition