Dams Safety NSW Board Meeting No 15
23 February 2021
Location: Online via Microsoft Teams
Time 9.30am to 2.30pm
Invitees - Ross Carter (Chair), Alex Fisher (Deputy Chair) Shane McGrath, Rob O'Neill, John Stacpoole, Chris Salkovic, Margaret Hynes, Jacqui Page (Secretariat), Peter Boyd, Asim Chohan. Guest - Brendan Guiney and Wayne Beatty (Water Directorate)
Minutes: Jacqui Page
Apologies: Nil
| Item | Decision and Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Meeting Opening 1.1 Appointed members only 1.2 Acknowledgement of country and welcome 1.3 Apologies - Nil 1.4 Conflicts of Interest – Nil 1.5 Previous minutes and actions Minutes and actions were accepted. 1.6 Water Directorate Brendan Guiney and Wayne Beatty joined the meeting to discuss the challenges faced by local councils and potential collaboration opportunities. Action 20212302-01: DSNSW and Water Directorate to explore collaboration opportunities within the Town Water Risk Reduction Program. Action 20212302-02: DSNSW to co-ordinate regular meetings with the Executive Officer of the Water Directorate. Action 20212302-03: DSNSW to identify the governance arrangements for DSNSW to engage at the Town Water Risk Reduction Program. Action 20212302-04: DSNSW and Water Directorate to develop a roadmap for future collaboration opportunities. Action 20212302-05: DSNSW to formally reply to the Water Directorate outlining the actions from January meeting. Action 20212302-06: DSNSW to invite Water Directorate to a future meeting to discuss initial issues raised. Table: A regional meeting for DSNSW has been tentatively booked for 18 May 2021. 2 Action 20212302-07: DSNSW to investigate attendance at Central West Joint Organisation meeting on 27 May 2021. |
| 2 | Strategy/Stakeholder Matters for Decision 2.1 Dam owner risk report strategy (revisit) Members approved the redrafted dam owner risk report strategy. Action 20212302-08: DSNSW to provide members an update on "Insight into intelligence gathering and building knowledge to enable priority setting". Matters for Discussion 2.2 Strategic deep dive – Dam owners unable to meet their obligations. DSNSW to update the risk with recommendations made by Members. Action 20212302-09: DSNSW to present a webinar for dam owners that includes their common law liability in the event of a dam failure and the framework that DSNSW provides for them to mitigate this risk. Matters for Noting 2.3 Annual dams safety standards report strategy (revisit) DSNSW to update the annual dams safety standards report strategy with recommendations made by members. Action 20212302-10: DSNSW to reword the statements in the standards compliance report so that dam owners affirm that they have achieved compliance and to describe how they have assured themselves of compliance. The fact sheet to include the level of seniority required for the declaration. Action 20212302-11: DSNSW to develop an approach to introducing audit as a way to assure compliance. |
| 3 | Governance Matters for Decision 3.1 Regulation amendments DSNSW to update the regulation amendment Briefing Note with recommendations made by Members. Action 20212302-12: DSNSW to review all clauses to ensure they have considered the triple bottom line (people, property, environment). Action 20212302-13: DSNSW to include the outcomes from the Qld Paradise Dam inquiry as a driver for elements of the regulation amendments Action 20212302-14: DSNSW to change accountable person to senior executive. Tabled: Future discussions: effects on downstream environment from tailing dams. Matters for Noting 3.2 Dams Safety NSW Regulator maturity assessment Members noted that DSNSW had done very well reaching the level of maturity in its first twelve months and that the new priorities and targets were good. 3.3 Reporting our priorities and compliance activities DSNSW to update compliance priorities and activities with recommendations made by Members. Action 2021302-15: DSNSW to inform Members of priorities and compliance activity information to be published (including some visual representation). |
| 4 | Operations Matters for Noting 4.1 CEO Report Members noted the CEO Report. Action 20212302-16: Chair to prepare letter to Minister Pavey regarding a meeting to discuss DSNSW’s progress with implementing the reform, the levy, and resourcing for DSNSW. Action 20212302-17: DSNSW CEO to seek Member input to any impact analysis around resourcing for DSNSW. Action 20212302-18: DSNSW to draft a submission letter in response to ‘Draft NSW Water Strategy’ public exhibition, by 15 March and provide to members out of session. Tabled: Members acknowledged the outstanding PMES results by DSNSW. 4.2 Key Performance indicators and projects Nil actions. |
| 5 | General Business Matter for Discussion 5.1 Diligent renewal of licence Members agreed not to renew the Diligent licence. Action 20212302-19: DSNSW to check functionality of “Teams” for individual notes. Action 20212302-20: DSNSW to separate agenda from meeting book in Teams. 5.2 Dams Safety Management System Guideline Consultation on the guideline had concluded and submissions received are being collated and reviewed in readiness for potential publishing approval. Action 20212302-21: DSNSW to send DSMS guideline for approval to publish to members out of session. |
| 6 | Meeting Finalisation 6.1 Review actions taken – completed 6.2 Meeting evaluation – by Ross Carter: quality of papers very good, constructive discussions. 6.3 Next meeting – 7 April 2021 - Remote 6.4 Meeting closed – 2.30pm |