WELCOME TO STORMWATER 2010

I am delighted to welcome you to this our first national conference. It is an historic event for the Stormwater Industry Association and reflects our maturity as an organisation within the broader water industry. Given that we represent one aspect of the water industry, we need to consider what part we will play in the future challenges that will inevitably arise. For this reason, we are using the title ‘ Creating a Storm: the Future of Stormwater Management in Australia ' for the theme of our national conference.

By 2050 our urban landscape will be very different from what it is today. We will have to adapt in all kinds of ways to make these environments liveable and healthy. The impacts are already with us. For example, the findings of a NSW Health Commission report found that the urban environment in Sydney was an increasingly negative factor in the health of the population. Social isolation, public health epidemics, obesity, depression, heart disease and diabetes are all linked to bland and poorly structured built and natural urban environments.

I have just finished reading Tim Flannery's essay ‘ Now or Never' where he states “I think that there is now a better than even chance that, despite our best efforts, in the coming two or three decades Earth's climate system will pass the point of no return”. He is quick to add that this is not meant to be a “council of despair”, simply a statement of his “assessment of probability”. It is a call to action Now .

Apathy is our worst enemy – are we up to the challenge? My challenge to you is for you to find three things that you can take away from this conference and implement or take some action on back in your workplace.

Please enjoy the conference, the learning, the networking and simply the chance to dedicate time out of our busy lives to refocus on those things that are important to each of us.

Warmest regards,

Steve Frost
President, SIA National

 

IMPORTANT DATES

Sponsorship and Exhibition Prospectus Released – Monday, 1st February, 2010
Conference Call for Abstracts Released - Monday, 15th February, 2010
Call for Papers Closes – Wednesday, 31st March, 2010
Acceptance of Abstracts Notified – Monday, 24th May, 2010
Early Bird Registration Ends – Tuesday, 31st August, 2010
Refereed Papers Due – Monday, 2nd August, 2010
Non Refereed Papers Due – Monday, 13th September, 2010
Final refereed papers and Abstracts Due – Monday, 20th September, 2010
Online Registration Closes – Thursday, 4th November, 2010

 

CONFERENCE SECRETARIAT

The Conference Secretariat for STORMWATER 2010 is GEMS Event Management.

Julie McGraw AMM CEM
Conference Manager
GEMS Event Management
Email: jmcgraw@gemspl.com.au
Phone: +61 2 9744 5252
Fax: +61 2 9747 8366
Mail: PO Box 1221 , Burwood, NSW 1805