47th Queensland Water Industry Operations Conference & Exhibition
19 & 20 July 2023
University of Sunshine Coast, USC Stadium
32 Olympic Way, (off Sippy Downs Drive), Sippy Downs, Qld, 4556
The Water Industry Operators Association were pleased to have 811 individuals take the opportunity to attend the
47th Annual Queensland Water Industry Operations Conference & Exhibition on the Sunshine Coast on 19 & 20 July 2023.
This is a fantastic effort for the Queensland Water industry, to be our second highest attended event in Queensland since running this event. We thank everyone for attending.
Congratulations to the 2023 Award Winners
Leon Henry Operator of the Year – Sponsored by Australian Water Association, Qld Branch
Nominees:
Aron Smith – Cairns Regional Council
Chris Reed – Mackay Regional Council
Josh Van Hout – Bundaberg Regional Council
Michael Suhan – Carpentaria Shire Council
Winner: Aron Smith – Cairns Regional Council
Young Operator of the Year – Sponsored by Queensland Water Directorate
Mitchell Gormley – North Burnett Regional Council
Operator of the Year Civil/All Rounder – Sponsored by Queensland Water Directorate
John Sebasio – Veolia
Best Paper Overall – Sponsored by Hanna Instruments
Janice Wilson & Reagan Whitehouse – Double Black Diamond Solutions & Unitywater
Best Paper by an Operator – Sponsored by ProMinent
- Kathryn Turner – Urban Utilities
- Scott Lowe – Unitywater
- John Holmes – Mackay Regional Council
Best Poster by an Operator – Sponsored by IWES The University of Queensland
Trusten Hahn – Seqwater
2023 Ixom Water of Origin – NSW v QLD
- Mackay Regional Council – Nebo Road WTP, QLD
- Shoalhaven Water – Bamerang WTP, NSW
Winner: Mackay Regional Council
Main Tapping Competition – Sponsored by Reece Civil & Viadux
First Place: City of Gold Coast – Jarryd Casey & Hugh Wilson (1 minute, 51 seconds)
Second Place: Mackay Regional Council – Kalum O’Donnell & Wes Smith (2 minutes, 51 seconds)
Fastest Heat: TasWater – Cameron Lusk & Lynden Thurston (1 minute, 44 seconds)
Ron Bergmeier Award – Best Exhibition Site – Sponsored by Utility Magazines
Wilo
WIOA Conference Charity Presentations
Tonga Water Board – $1,000
Stay Chatty – $1,000
See & hear the latest in the water industry at a WIOA conference. Become a WIOA member today and save 25% on your delegate registration. This is an open event and there may be a small number of attendees who are not vaccinated. It is recommended that all attendees consider this fact as part of their own risk assessment about attending.
This is one of three very successful ‘operationally focused’ conferences and exhibitions organised by WIOA annually.
Conference Goals
- Distribution of the latest “operational” technical and research-based information through platform and poster presentations.
- Update of knowledge and skills plus network development by operations staff through interaction with fellow Water Industry employees.
- Provision of opportunities to view and discuss the latest advances in technical equipment and systems with suppliers and trade consultants.
Venue
University of Sunshine Coast, USC Stadium
32 Olympic Way, Sippy Downs, Qld, 4556
(Turn off Sippy Downs Drive)
Accommodation & Bus Routes
Accommodation Sunshine Coast
Attendees are responsible for booking their own accommodation.
You can also visit the Visit Sunshine Coast website for more information about the area.
Bus Route
WIOA provides a courtesy bus to and from the Wednesday & Thursday Dinner. It is attendees own responsibility to get to and from the venue during the day.
The listing of accommodation providers is provided for your convenience as they will be close to the conference bus route.
The following listing of accommodation providers is provided for your convenience as they will be close to the conference bus route. WIOA does not endorse or recommend any of the accommodation providers. There are many other hotels within the Sunshine Coast other than those listed below.
| Name | Address | Phone |
| Breeze Mooloolaba | 3 Meta Street, Cnr of Mooloolaba Esplanade & Meta Street | 07 5444 5355 |
| Mantra Mooloolaba | Cnr Venning Street & The Esplande | 07 5452 2600 |
| Nautilus Mooloolaba | 30-32 River Esplanade | 07 5444 3877 |
| Sailport Mooloolaba | 42-56 River Esplanade | 07 5444 1844 |
| Riverview Two | 60 River Esplanade | |
| Riverdance Apartments Mooloolaba | 62-68 River Esplanade | 07 5444 7803 |
| Central Motel Mooloolaba | 73 Brisbane Road | 07 5444 3855 |
| Abode Mooloolaba | 75 Brisbane Road | 0488 692 099 |
| Aquarius Kawana | 14 Bright Place | 07 5228 0409 |
| Mercure Sunshine Coast Kawana Waters | 9 Florey Boulevard | 07 5334 9500 |
| North Shore Kawana | 15 Shine Court | 07 5357 8786 |
QLD Conference Hosts 2023
QLD Conference Sponsors 2023
QLD Conference Media Partners 2023
COVID Safe Information
Although a formal COVID Safe Event Plan is no longer required, WIOA is retaining many of the precautions previously in place.
This is an open event and there may be a small number of attendees who are not vaccinated. It is recommended that all attendees consider this fact as part of their own risk assessment about attending the event.
To make the conference as safe as possible for all attendees, there will be numerous changes to the operation of the conference and we request the support of all attendees in implementing these:
- If you are not well, or you have any COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, or loss of smell, please do not attend the event.
- If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past 7 days, or if you are a close contact of a person who is positive for COVID-19, or you are awaiting results from a COVID-19 test, you should not attend the event.
- As it is an indoor event, it is suggested that attendees consider wearing face masks as an added precaution against the spread of COVID-19.
- A refund will be made available for people unable to attend due to illness, or travel restrictions due to COVID-19 outbreaks
- A QR code is included on all attendee name tags for contact tracing purposes. ALL attendees MUST scan into the event each day
- Bollards will be used to manage queues in areas where they are likely to form (registration desk and meals area). Maintaining physical distancing is the responsibility of every individual.
- Hand sanitiser stations will be available at the entry to the building, the exhibition hall, and the papers room. Please sanitise or wash your hands regularly.
- The chairs in the papers room will be widely spaced to provide extra distancing between attendees.
- Additional cleaning is being implemented in high touch, high traffic areas including the bathrooms, toilets, chairs and tables
- There will be no free-standing lunches or dinner service. These will be served and consumed whilst seated at tables.