Keynote Speakers

Jeff Roorda, Jeff Roorda & Associates
Strategic Investment in Infrastructure: Are We Providing Value for Money?

Governments convert community wealth into physical infrastructure, but how effectively are these community assets planned, constructed and managed? The International Infrastructure Management Manual identifies minimum core standards for asset custodians responsible for all stages of water cycle infrastructure planning, construction and operations.

This presentation will examine examples in Canada, Australia and New Zealand of reviews by Auditors General on the asset management performance of infrastructure custodians and case studies where infrastructure custodians have been found wanting, but also where some have developed their capacity to plan, manage, operate and report on the performance of infrastructure assets.

The presentation will also highlight some of the difficult questions that face asset managers. For example, how do we value our soft assets such as wetlands, waterways, riparian zones, a bio-filtration swales and rain gardens? How do we depreciate or appreciate them? How do we make proper financial provision for their replacement?

Jeff Roorda is Chief Executive Officer of Jeff Roorda and Associates, which is an asset management, mentoring and consulting organisation working with a range of infrastructure asset custodians and regulators in a number of countries. Jeff has a Civil Engineering background and has worked extensively with engineers, accountants, economists, and community and environmental leaders to develop better ways to engage community decision makers in wise management of infrastructure assets. Recent projects include work with utility and transport companies, government and Government regulators.

 

Tony Weber, BMT WBM
Where is WSUD at? An Examination of the Triumphs and Pitfalls of WSUD Application in Queensland

In Queensland, we have been at the forefront of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) and application for the last decade. While this might be the case, what have we achieved during this time and how is it currently being implemented in the region? From an examination of presentations from the conference, on-ground applications and studies of devices which have been in the ground for that decade, we can now start to fully understand the implications of continued WSUD implementation.

This presentation will look at what we are getting right, what we need to do better and where we have missed the boat completely? It will explore the industry and government sectors, both of which have made significant advances with WSUD but also equally still have much to learn…

Tony Weber is Manager of Water Quality in the Water and Ecology group in BMT WBM 's Brisbane Office. Since joining WBM, Tony has worked on a large range of water quality related projects, including water sensitive urban design, integrated water management, water quality and storm water management projects. These projects range from conceptual and detailed designs of WSUD, urban lake management, strategic policy and planning, catchment modelling and water quality monitoring. Tony is a member of the development team for “MUSIC” (Model for Urban Stormwater Improvement Conceptualisation) and lead trainer for that software.

Tony has a degree in Chemistry from QUT and has worked in the water industry (including water supply and laboratory analysis, stormwater management and strategic urban water management) for over 20 years.

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