en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Water Industry Operators Association of Australia (WIOA) held its 87th Victorian Water Industry Operations Conference and Exhibition at the Bendigo Exhibition Centre in Victoria from March 25 to 26, with over 1,490 attendees, a 9.5% increase from last year, setting a record as the largest in the conference's history.
The conference attracted water professionals from across the country, and the growth in attendance further solidified Bendigo's position as the venue for this annual event. WIOA CEO Dean Barnett stated that the association's membership has approached 6,000, a record high in its over 50-year history, and the scale of the conference reflects the association's significant role across the industry.
The conference agenda focused on practicality and frontline experience, with presentations from North East Water, SA Water & SUEZ, and Greater Western Water addressing real operational challenges, sparking ongoing discussions. Several competitions held concurrently became highlights, including the Reece Civil + Viadux Main Tapping Competition, the first-ever Trans-Tasman Main Tapping Competition, and the IXOM Best Tasting Tap Water Competition.
In the Main Tapping Competition, Cameron and Curtis from North East Water won with a time of 3 minutes and 2.23 seconds, completing a clean tap on a pressurized 100mm pipe on their second attempt without any penalties. In the Trans-Tasman event, Cameron Lusk and Lynden Thurston from TasWater won the inaugural 2026 WIOA Trans-Tasman Main Tapping Competition with a time of 1 minute and 20.72 seconds, defeating the Kūmānu team from Nelson, New Zealand. TasWater's General Manager of Operations, Brendan Windmeyer, stated that this achievement reflects the overall expertise, precision, and pride of the organization's operational team.
In the IXOM Best Tasting Tap Water Competition, Coliban Water's Bendigo Water Treatment Plant won the title of Victoria's Best Tasting Tap Water for 2026, defeating Barwon Water's Colac Water Treatment Plant and Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water's Hopetoun Water Treatment Plant. Coliban Water's Catchment and Treatment Operations Manager, Angus Bowles, attributed the result to the joint efforts of the team and partners Veolia and ServiceStream.
The conference also held the inaugural Women in Water Operations Breakfast, with over 40 attendees participating in the forum. The awards announced at the gala dinner included: Rookie Operator of the Year – Holly WestBrook from Goulburn Murray Water; Network Operator of the Year – Ethan Mansfield from South East Water; Best Paper by an Operator – Liam Tothill and Andrew Sawiilski from SA Water and Suez; Hepburn Best Paper Award – Rita Meijer from SA Water; Best Poster by an Operator – Vincent Encena from Greater Western Water; Ron Bergmeier Best Stand Award – NovoLabs; IXOM Victoria's Best Tasting Tap Water – Coliban Water; Main Tapping Competition – Cameron and Curtis from North East Water.
On the technical agenda, North East Water presented key lessons on the application of protective coatings for clear water storage tanks, SA Water and SUEZ shared practical methods for treating excess sludge at the Barossa Water Treatment Plant, and Greater Western Water introduced experiences from a soil hydrology project in water reuse. The 2026 Queensland Water Industry Operations Conference and Exhibition is scheduled to be held from June 24 to 25 at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre.
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