This week’s water community activity focused on renewing essential infrastructure, involving customers in future planning and finding new ways to monitor waterway health.
From pipe upgrades across several states to research that may help assess cyanobacterial blooms, the latest developments show how water services and environmental knowledge continue to evolve.
Lindsey Brown joins Mott MacDonald regional leadership team
Mott MacDonald has appointed Lindsey Brown as growth director for Asia Pacific, New Zealand and Australia.
Based in Australia, Brown will help shape the company’s regional growth strategy, including client relationships, recruitment and opportunities across its markets. She joins from GHD, where she was most recently Australian water market leader, and brings 20 years’ experience in environmental sustainability, public policy and water sector leadership.
Brown said: “I’m excited to scale that capability with our clients and partners so together we can make meaningful headway on the challenges in our region.”
Unitywater control room manages thousands of jobs
Unitywater responded to more than 10,000 reactive jobs between July 2025 and July 2026 across Moreton Bay, the Sunshine Coast and Noosa.
Its Maroochydore control room operates around the clock, with a team of 20 monitoring water and wastewater networks and coordinating responses to faults. The team also takes an average of 4,000 calls each month.
Unitywater Control Room Manager Craig Timms said: “There are a variety of jobs this team is responsible for, including responding to alarms at pumping stations, coordinating emergency repairs in the middle of the night, dispatching crews to investigate reported faults and supporting our field crews.”
Pipe renewals strengthen Gippsland services
Gippsland Water has invested $3.4 million over the past 12 months to renew ageing water and sewer assets across its service area.
The work forms part of a five-year program to improve reliability. Almost 3.9 kilometres of water mains were replaced across six towns, while 6.2 kilometres of sewer mains were relined in Warragul and Traralgon, benefiting a further 316 customers.
Gippsland Water Managing Director Sarah Cumming said: “We’re continually renewing our pipes to meet the needs of growing communities.”
Port Lincoln water main replacement underway
SA Water is replacing approximately 480 metres of water main beneath Dublin Street and Luke Street in Port Lincoln to improve the reliability of local services.
The work is part of the utility’s four-year, $287 million statewide water main management program. New PVC pipe is being installed, with construction expected to continue until late October, subject to weather conditions.
SA Water General Manager of Sustainable Infrastructure Peter Seltsikas said: “With a typical lifespan of around 100 years, this upgrade ensures we can continue to provide reliable water services to our local customers into the future.”
Frog Census marks 25 years with new monitoring tool
Melbourne Water’s Frog Census is marking 25 years with an online planner and handbook to help community groups monitor frog populations over time.
The program began with volunteers recording frog calls on cassette tapes. Since the launch of the Frog Census App in 2016, thousands of volunteers have contributed recordings that help build a picture of biodiversity across Greater Melbourne’s waterways and wetlands.
Melbourne Water Waterwatch Coordinator Jane Petch said: “Alone, we simply couldn't conduct ecological surveys across every waterway and wetland, in every season, at the scale needed to understand how our ecosystems are changing.”
Community panel to inform Wannon Water’s next price submission
Wannon Water is inviting customers to join a community panel that will help inform its next price submission.
Up to 40 people from different backgrounds and locations will consider service and investment choices before making recommendations to the Wannon Water Board. Participants will be paid for their time, with support available for transport, childcare and other access needs.
Wannon Water Managing Director Steven Waterhouse said: “This is an opportunity for customers to help determine how we balance service quality, affordability and long-term investment. The recommendations developed by the panel will provide important insights into what our communities value most.”
Wastewater engineer Garry Macdonald appointed to New Zealand Order of Merit
Garry Macdonald has been appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, recognising a five-decade career in wastewater engineering and his contributions to public health, environmental outcomes and the water sector.
A recipient of Water New Zealand’s Association Medal in 2018, Macdonald continues to share his expertise through the National Wastewater Standards Technical Review Group and technical presentations.
Study examines toxin potential of lake cyanobacteria
Researchers at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences and Oregon State University have assembled the first complete genomes of Gloeotrichia echinulata, a cyanobacterium known for visible blooms in otherwise clear lakes.
Comparing samples from lakes in the western and northeastern United States, the team found no evidence of the genetic pathways needed to produce commonly recognised cyanobacterial toxins. The samples did contain genes for geosmin, which can affect the taste of drinking water and require additional treatment.
Study co-lead author Robin Sleith cautioned: “It may be producing yet-to-be-characterized toxins or molecules we don't understand.”
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