NSW SQID Taskforce Initiative

Helping SQIDs Be Better SQIDs.

A completed NSW taskforce that brought industry, councils and government together to identify why stormwater quality infrastructure fails; and how SQID approvals, design and assessment can be improved.

Project Timeline

View the Findings

SQID Infrastructure

The NSW SQID Taskforce.

Led by Stormwater NSW and Blacktown City Council, the NSW SQID Taskforce brought together industry experts, councils, manufacturers and government representatives to examine the key issues affecting Stormwater Quality Improvement Devices.

The taskforce investigated approval processes, lifecycle costs, safety, constructability, maintenance and long-term performance; producing a practical evidence base to support better SQID decision-making across New South Wales.

Key Deliverables:

Industry-wide consultation
SQID assessment recommendations
Foundation for future reform

Project Overview

Identifying the Root Causes of SQID Failures.

The Challenge

Current practices surrounding SQID approvals faced severe inefficiency, inconsistency, and a lack of clear guidance from peak bodies. Existing evaluations focused primarily on water quality, dangerously neglecting lifecycle costs, buildability, safety, maintenance requirements and long-term asset performance.

Our Action

We convened a specialised taskforce to undertake a 12-month, multi-stage review of SQID approval, design, maintenance and lifecycle challenges. Through stakeholder consultation and technical review, the taskforce identified critical gaps and developed a revised approval framework to support more consistent, practical and whole-of-life SQID decision-making.

The Impact

The taskforce established clear recommendations to expand the scope of SQID assessments, defined appropriate governance structures, identified true funding requirements and improved how SQIDs are approved, procured, installed, maintained and handed over.

PROJECT OUTCOMES

What We Built.

SQID Industry Review

A completed three-volume SQID Industry Review setting out the taskforce findings, evidence base, recommendations and reform pathways.

Revised Assessment Framework

A broader SQID assessment approach that moves beyond pollutant removal to include lifecycle cost, safety, constructability, maintenance and long-term asset risk.

Governance Recommendations

Clear recommendations for improving accountability, decision-making and responsibility across SQID approval, procurement, ownership and maintenance.

Funding Requirements

A clearer understanding of the true funding needed to support SQID assessment, maintenance, asset renewal and long-term performance.

Future Reform Roadmap

A foundation for future initiatives, including SQID lifecycle ratings, updated maintenance standards, improved procurement guidance and stronger industry governance.

TASKFORCE STRUCTURE

How We Delivered It.

A collaborative taskforce process that brought together councils, industry and technical experts to identify SQID approval failures and develop practical reform recommendations.

Stakeholder Consultation

Gathered input from councils, asset owners, manufacturers, engineers, maintenance providers and government representatives to identify common issues and recurring barriers.

Technical Review Process

Examined SQID approvals, design requirements, lifecycle costs, safety, constructability, maintenance and asset handover to understand where current systems were failing.

Recommendations & Reform Pathway

Translated the findings into practical recommendations that can inform future standards, procurement guidance, governance structures and funding models.

Execution Strategy

What We Achieved.

Over a 12-month, multi-stage review, the taskforce examined SQID approval, design, lifecycle, governance and funding challenges; producing a revised assessment framework and the completed three-volume SQID Industry Review.

Phase 1

Issue
Identification

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Identified key SQID approval, design, maintenance, lifecycle, governance and funding issues through taskforce discussions and stakeholder input.

Phase 2

Evidence &
Stakeholder Review

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Gathered and reviewed input from councils, industry, manufacturers, maintenance providers, asset owners and technical experts.

Phase 3

Revised Framework
Development

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Developed a revised approval and assessment framework to support more consistent, practical and whole-of-life SQID decision-making.

Phase 4

SQID Industry
Review Released

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Produced the completed three-volume SQID Industry Review, capturing the taskforce findings, evidence base, recommendations and reform pathways.

Next Steps

Reform
Implementation

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The findings now support future work on lifecycle ratings, maintenance standards, procurement reform, governance structures and sustainable funding pathways.

Reports & Resources

The SQID Industry Review.

Access the completed three-volume SQID Industry Review, supporting documents & feedback form developed through the NSW SQID Taskforce.

Volume One

Main report featuring the Executive Summary, Recommendations, and Scoring Matrix.

Download PDF

Volume Two

Specific outcomes of the Working Groups, including Lifecycle Costing Evaluation and Governance Frameworks.

Download PDF

Volume Three

Supporting documentation, literature reviews, and industry consultation surveys.

Download PDF

Code of Conduct

Conflicts of Interest

Project Plan

Submit Feedback

NSW SQID Taskforce Report One – Stage One Project Set Up

Volume Three

Supporting Attachment Seven:

References
(Volumes One – Three)

TASKFORCE CONTRIBUTORS

Led by Experts Across the Stormwater Sector.

The NSW SQID Taskforce brought together council, industry, technical and academic contributors to review SQID challenges and develop practical recommendations for reform.