INITIATIVES

SQID

HELPING SQIDS BE BETTER SQIDS

NSW SQID Taskforce

The NSW SQID Taskforce is a collaborative initiative aimed at improving the approval process for Stormwater Quality Improvement Devices (SQIDs) in New South Wales. This review is based on aligning with the current national Stormwater Quality Improvement Device Evaluation Protocol. The taskforce establishment has been led by Stormwater NSW and Blacktown City Council.

This Taskforce brings together industry experts, government representatives, and key stakeholders to address existing challenges and ensure a more efficient, consistent, and robust framework for SQID assessment and implementation.

⁠SQID Industry Review

Each tile links to a PDF version of the document.

Feedback on the content is welcomed and encouraged and can be submitted via this form.

Volume One

Main report with the Executive Summary and Recommendations

Volume One

⁠SQID Industry Review Volume One

Volume One

Appendix One:

Meet the NSW SQID Taskforce

Volume One

Appendix Two:

Guiding Principles – Direction for SQID Taskforce Decision Making

Volume One

Appendix Three:

SQID Taskforce Recommendations Scoring Matrix

Volume Two

Specific outcomes of the Working Groups that led to the Recommendations

Volume Two

⁠SQID Industry Review Volume Two

Volume Two

Output One:

Draft SQID Lifecycle Costing Evaluation and Rating Guide

Volume Two

Output Two:

Proposed SQIDEP Governance Framework

Volume Two

Output Three:

Review of SQIDEP 1.3 & International Protocols

Volume Two

Output Four:

SQID Lifecycle Asset Ownership

Volume Two

Output Five:

Improving SQID Installation

Volume Two

Output Six:

Improving Maintenance Guidelines and Management for SQIDS

Volume Three

Supporting and supplementary documentation

Volume Three

⁠SQID Industry Review Volume Three

Volume Three

Supporting Attachment One:

Industry Consultation on SQIDEP – Review of Recent Surveys

Volume Three

Supporting Attachment Two:

Review of SQIDEP Against International Protocols

Volume Three

Supporting Attachment Three:

Literature Review – SQID Installation Practices and Criteria Analysis

Volume Three

Supporting Attachment Four:

Document Review State & Territory Stormwater Quality Guidelines and Policies

Volume Three

Supporting Attachment Five:

NSW SQID Taskforce Terms of Reference

Volume Three

Supporting Attachment Six:

NSW SQID Taskforce Report One – Stage One Project Set Up

Volume Three

Supporting Attachment Seven:

References
(Volumes One – Three)

Why the Review?

Current practices surrounding SQID approval in NSW face several key challenges:

Inefficiency and inconsistency

Identify failures and opportunities within the stormwater sector to improve community outcomes.

Limited scope of assessment

Existing evaluation processes primarily focus on water quality performance, neglecting crucial aspects like lifecycle costs, maintainability, safety, and sustainability.

Lack of clear guidance

A lack of endorsed guidelines from peak bodies and government departments creates confusion and uncertainty for both applicants and approval authorities.

This review seeks to address these issues by developing clear recommendations and a framework for a
more comprehensive and effective SQID approval process.

What’s the Approach?

The NSW SQID Taskforce is undertaking a 12 month, multi-stage approach:

1. Identifying key issues and gaps
The Taskforce is actively gathering input from stakeholders to identify the most pressing challenges and areas for improvement in the current SQID approval process. 

2. Developing recommendations
Based on this input, the Taskforce will develop a set of recommendations for a revised approval framework in NSW. This will include considerations for:

Expanding the scope of assessment beyond water quality to include lifecycle costs, maintainability, safety, and sustainability.
Establishing a clear and consistent approval process.
Defining appropriate governance structures.
Identifying funding requirements.

3.Collaboration and influence
The Taskforce will work with Stormwater Australia to influence improvements to the national SQIDEP standard and advocate for the adoption of the recommended framework in NSW.

Who is on the Review Committee?

The Taskforce is comprised of a diverse group of representatives across various sectors:

Committee Members

Chair:
David Nixon (Stormwater Services Australia)

Lead – Maintenance / Lifecycle / Sustainability / Safety / Constructability Subcommittee / Secretariat:
Kristy Good (Blacktown City Council)

Lead – Performance Assessment Subcommittee:
Kefeng Zheng (UNSW)

General Committee:
Andrew Thomas (Stormwater NSW)

General Committee:
Brad Dalrymple (Ocean Protect)

Subcommittee Members

Maintenance / Lifecycle / Sustainability / Safety / Construct ability

Kristy Good (Lead)

Chay Mackenzie

Doug Yardley

Mircea Stancu

Russell Cadman

Ben Wolfgramm

Craig Naughton

Justine Barrett

Murray Powell

Zhaozhi Zheng

Charles Kelly

David Nixon

Kylie Drapala

Robert Chesterfield

Subcommittee Members

Performance Assessment Subcommittee

Kefeng Zheng (Lead)

Mark Liebman

Carl Hasan

Mike Hannah

Darren Drapper

Nicole Wallwood

Charles Kelly

CHARLES KELLY

National Manager - Water Solutions at Humes Pty Ltd

Charles Kelly brings 25 years of engineering experience to his current role as the National Manager – Water Solutions at Humes. He holds a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering and a PhD in mechanical/environmental engineering. Additionally, he is a chartered professional civil and environmental engineer with diverse experience across the manufacturing, consulting, and construction sectors.

At Humes, Charles holds comprehensive commercial and technical responsibility for an extensive product portfolio. He also plays an active role in the company's continuous research and development initiatives.

What you are trying to achieve from this project:

While the importance of stormwater quality improvement devices (SQIDs) within water sensitive urban design (WSUD) is well-recognised, many current devices rely on older technologies. These were primarily designed for performance, often overlooking ease of maintenance and durability.
My goal for this taskforce is to establish minimum requirements for the next generation of SQIDs. These standards should not only address performance but also encompass crucial aspects such as durability, safety, maintainability, and sustainability.

Justine Barrett

JUSTINE BARRETT

Research technician and PhD student at CSIRO

Justine currently has a leading role in stakeholder liaison, operational/fieldwork aspects and on-ground asset management across multiple technology-based projects. She is the chief ‘stormtrooper’, leading the stormwater litter prevention research. Her PhD is aimed at reducing plastic pollution from reaching our waterways and oceans via improving litter capture in stormwater systems across Australia.

What you are trying to achieve from this project:

Ultimately, cleaner oceans! I am hopeful that together we can provide some tools and clarification for improving stormwater treatment.

Kylie Drapala

KYLIE DRAPALA

Logan City Council

Kylie is an experienced environmental professional with over 20 years in government, industry, academic and consulting roles. She is passionate about promoting good, thoughtful and operational urban design outcomes through the development and delivery of integrated strategies in stormwater management.

What you are trying to achieve from this project:

To deliver strategic outcomes the basic principles of the methods chosen have to be understood, robust, operational and easy to implement.

Murray Powell

MURRAY POWELL

General Manager at Optimal Stormwater

Two degrees and 33 years in stormwater treatment.

What you are trying to achieve from this project:

The biggest impediment to getting our SQIDs to work better is Maintenance. A lack of maintenance and incorrect maintenance have plaqued our industry for years. Whilst I am the lead author of the Government Guidelines for the Maintenance of Stormwater Treatment Measures, if devices do not adequately consider Long-term maintenance in their design and selection/approval, then everyone's job becomes a lot harder. But it becomes if possible if there is no money allocated to this task. Maintenance will remain the highest priority item for getting better outcomes from all our stormwater treatment infrastructure.

Zhaozhi Zheng

ZHAOZHI ZHENG

Graduate Scientist at WaterNSW

Zhaozhi is currently a Graduate Scientist at WaterNSW, with a background in stormwater quality monitoring and treatment from his previous roles as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and PhD researcher. He has a strong interest in stormwater quality, nature-based treatment systems, and monitoring techniques, including autosamplers, passive samplers, and sensors.

What you are trying to achieve from this project:

I’ve always been passionate about the development and improvement of stormwater treatment devices. It’s encouraging to see growing efforts toward standardizing regulations and processes in this field.