denecessary

As many of you may be aware, my contract with Queensland Urban Utilities has not been renewed.

My last day will be the 31 December 2012.


I commenced my career at Queensland Urban Utilities as an Audit and Compliance Officer, checking on safety and quality of water and sewerage construction projects including sewer main upgrades and water main pipe bursting. It was not long before I was seconded into the Contract Management of the construction of an additional overflow channel for the Luggage Point Sewage Treatment Plant.  

I really enjoyed the opportunity to manage the contracts for upgrades to regional lagoons, in some cases from procurement right through to construction. I also appreciate having the opportunity to be involved in a team working strategically to embed ecological and business sustainability principles into Queensland Urban Utilities’ procurement processes.

In the short term, I will be looking for another opportunity somewhere in the local, Australian Water industry.  I would be grateful, if anyone has some suggestions.


In the longer term, I shall be pursuing opportunities in International Development Assistance for water and sanitation in developing communities.


I will continue to seek support from Queensland Urban Utilities to assist reinventing the toilet and/or to work on local projects to improve access to toilets.


I have really enjoyed working at Queensland Urban Utilities. 

Jobseekers taught to use Chainsaws

The new Qld Government seems to think environmental management is getting jobseekers to plant trees.  Jobseekers are also being trained to use chainsaws, This will help jobseekers get a job with Brisbane City Council - cutting down trees.


The new Qld LNP Government have picked up the former Qld ALP Government's Green Army   program to provide 3000 jobs to help get the economy growing again. As part of the Qld Government's response to the global downturn participants have been put to work on projects to enhance natural assets, strengthen the tourism industry and promote increased environmental awareness.

Jobseekers have been employed on environmental projects along local waterways since early this year, with funding through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative. 

Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek said the participants ranged in age from school leavers who were having difficulties breaking into the workforce through to mature-aged people looking for new skills to help them meet the needs of local employers. 

"The common theme was that these people all wanted jobs and were prepared to tackle projects that would give them appropriate skills for the current market,” Mr Langbroek said. 

“The projects they’ve been involved in are part of a larger initiative across the Sunshine Coast that has seen a collaboration of the State and Federal governments, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Maroochy Landcare and SEQ Catchments. 

“Skilling Queenslanders for Work provided more than $860,000 funding to four of the local network of Landcare organisations across the Sunshine Coast to help a total of 44 jobseekers earn an income while learning new skills. 

“Through this project the participants gain skills in horticulture, conservation, water and land management which equip them for a range of jobs with an environmental focus. 

“But, importantly, the experience also enables them to acquire skills in communication, teamwork, problem solving, planning and time management which are highly desired skills for a broader range of job opportunities.” 

The organisations funded through Skilling Queenslanders for Work for this project were Noosa and District Landcare Group, Barung Landcare Association, Mooloolah River Waterwatch and Landcare Inc and Maroochy Waterwatch Inc. 

Small groups of three to four have worked with each organisation on projects that focussed on either Kin Kin Creek and its tributaries, the eastern slopes of the Blackall Range that delivers to the Mooloolah River, the Upper Mooloolah River and its tributaries or the Maroochy River and its tributaries. 

“The accredited training component of the project includes a chainsaw operations certificate, Construction White Card and First Aid,” Mr Langbroek said. 

“The project has already led to two of tomorrow’s graduating group gaining new jobs and some others are awaiting the outcomes of applications or interviews. 

“They will all be supported in coming months to help them move into sustainable employment.” 

The organisations will take on final small groups for the project in coming weeks. Anyone interested in participating should contact the organisations for further information. 

Labor's Identity crisis

I may be everything that John Birmhingham thinks makes the Labor party doomed (doomed he says).

 My grandparents were fair dinkum working class.  Dad's dad was a Firey.  Mum's dad worked for the water board.  My grandmothers could not vote or could not drink in a public bar.  Once they married, it was expected that they would give up their careers and stay at home to raise my respective parents, my Aunts & my Uncles.

My parents climbed the ladders of opportunity.  Dad obtained a cadetship and worked as a Health Inspector, eventually climbing to run Building and Town Planning sections of Municipal Authorities.

Mum also climbed a ladder. She gained a scholarship to be a teacher.

As a child, I watched Mum bang her head on glass ceilings.  She needed twice the experience and three times the qualifications to break into administration.  She taught by day and studied at night.

My siblings and I (through no fault of our own) were the kids of professionals. The lower tiers of our maslow's hierarchy of human needs was met.   We were raised in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast, on a farm, surrounded by rainforest & close to beaches & all sorts of wilderness.

My parents took me off to Sunday School, where I learnt about Missionaries.  I watched slides shows of poor people in developing communities.  I did not want to save them.  I did want them to access to clean water and designated, sustainable places to poo.

So as an adult, I must be what JB refers to as soft left!  I am a Greenie (though not a Green). I am a humanitarian.  I work as a mercenary contractor for a Municipal Authority and run a floundering social enterprise.

So on Labor Day, 2012.  I am working from home, with the dual responsibilities of child care & provider.  I would have liked to have marched with the Labour movement today, but I am not sure I belong.

Ethical Jobs

What does one do when a major employer starts shedding all its temporary contractors?

Do longer term, full time employees suddenly have to pick up intense, excessive workloads?

What happens when there is a new owner or a new manager and they change the mission and the vision?

What happens when the Government stops providing for essential community services like Environment Protection?

What do we do as a community, when the elected Government does not have a viable opposition and can basically do what ever it pleases?

Can Social Enterprise fill the gap in the market?

For more than 20 of the last 22 years, the environment movement has been "in da house" and at the table, negotiating, lobbying and advocating for Environment Protection.

Dear friends of mine who had been leading the Environment movement in the Joh years, ended up as Ministerial advisers, writing policy and influencing legislation. Those people are no longer employed.

The new Queensland Government, led by Campbell Newman is making de-necessary people, policies and so-called "red tape". He has tunnel vision.

There are a lot of babies in the bathwater.

There must be something we can do.