By: David Nixon, NSW SQID Taskforce Chair, Sydney
Date: October 11, 2025
Passion, expertise, and a shared sense of urgency can build incredible momentum. Over the last 12 months, the NSW SQID Taskforce has run on exactly that, with industry volunteers contributing over 5,000 hours to diagnose the systemic flaws in our approach to stormwater management. The result is a groundbreaking report that provides a clear, actionable roadmap for reform.
But momentum, without fuel, eventually grinds to a halt. And right now, our engine has stalled.
The NSW SQID Taskforce has run out of money.
The Sobering Reality: Passion Doesn’t Pay the Bills
Let’s be blunt. There is currently a $0 budget to move this critical initiative forward.
There are no funds to host the workshops needed for robust consultation. There are no funds to collate and analyse industry feedback. There are no funds to produce a finalised report or drive the advocacy required to turn these recommendations into law. The entire project is now running on the fumes of volunteer goodwill, and that is not a sustainable strategy for systemic change.
This leaves our industry at a critical crossroads crossroads emoji️. Do we let this unprecedented effort and opportunity wither on the vine, or do we, as a collective, decide that this work is too important to fail?
The High Cost of Doing Nothing
If we choose inaction, the consequences are stark. The 5,000+ hours of expert analysis will become a historical footnote, gathering digital dust on a server. The problems we’ve so clearly identified will persist:
- Councils will continue to inherit expensive, unmanageable assets.
- Standards will remain inconsistent and inadequate.
- The industry will miss its best chance to take control of its own destiny and professionalise.
Inaction isn’t a neutral choice; it’s a decision to accept the flawed status quo. It’s a decision that the short-term cost of investment outweighs the long-term cost of dysfunction. We believe that is a profound miscalculation.
The Challenge to the Industry: It’s Time to Invest in Ourselves
The Taskforce’s job was to do the heavy lifting—to diagnose the illness and write the prescription. We’ve done that. Now, the responsibility shifts to the beneficiaries of the cure: the entire stormwater industry.
This report is more than just a document; it’s a business case for a better future. A future with clear standards, reduced risk, and more sustainable outcomes is a more profitable and resilient future for everyone—from manufacturers and consultants to councils and government agencies.
This isn’t about a donation; it’s about an investment.
This initiative, born from thousands of hours of volunteer effort, has reached a critical juncture where passion alone is not enough. The future of this reform now depends entirely on the willingness of the industry to invest in its own future. The NSW SQID Taskforce Report lays out the path forward, but it’s a path that requires resources. We invite you to review the report and provide crucial feedback on how we can collectively fund this essential next stage.
We have commenced a broad consultation process across industry, government, councils and industries. We are aiming to prepare a feedback supplement at the conclusion of the consultation period.
Review the consultation draft, Volume One, outlining recommendations, available on the Stormwater 2030 website.
Submit feedback via the Taskforce Feedback Form by Monday, December 1, 2025.
