Dams Safety NSW Board Meeting No 30
31 January 2023
Location: 4PSQ, 12 Darcy Street, Parramatta
Time: 10am - 1pm
Attendees:
Mr Paul O’Connor (Chair), Ms Julie Garland McLellan (Dep Chair), Mr Shane McGrath, Mr Rob O’Neill, Mr Ian Landon-Jones, Mr Chris Salkovic (CEO)
Invitees:
Ms Margaret Hynes, Mr Jason Porter
Declarations of interest: No conflicts of interest were identified for this meeting.
Item
Discussion and actions
1
Meeting open
1.1 Appointed members only
1.2 Acknowledgement of country and welcome
1.3 Apologies and absences
Nil
1.4 Declarations of interest: No conflicts of interest were identified for this meeting.
1.5 Previous minutes and actions
Minutes and actions accepted with no amendments.
2
Strategy/Stakeholder engagement
Matters for discussion
2.1. Dams Safety Engineers competency framework - update
Paper was taken as read.
After discussion, members agreed to the project mandate: To establish a dams safety engineer competency framework which will be administered by Engineers Australia.
Action: 20233101-01: CEO to hold further discussions with Engineers Australia on the entity best placed to lead on the project.
2.2. Sharing dams safety information
Paper taken as read.
After discussion, members agreed to the following open access principle for sharing information:
DSNSW embraces an open access principle to sharing information received and produced by the Agency to the extent allowed by law and consistent with preserving the integrity of its regulatory actions, where sharing that information will:
- enable the community to understand the level of risks that may arise in relation to dams; and/or
- assist with holding the dam owners accountable and promote a culture of compliance within the sector; and/or
- assist with demonstrating that DSNSW is a fair, transparent and effective regulator.
Members agreed that, over time, more information will be published to encourage transparency and the open sharing of information by declared dam owners.
Action: 20233101-02: Management to apply the open access principle for sharing information in its current revision of stakeholder engagement strategy.
Matters for noting
2.3 Engagement with local government sector
Paper taken as read.
Action: 20233101-03: Office of Local Government to be included as a stakeholder with available communication channels in the DSNSW stakeholder engagement strategy.
3
Governance
Matters for discussion
3.1. Annual risk review
Paper taken as read.
After discussion, members endorsed the overarching risk management framework elements to guide its approach to risk governance.
Action: 20233101-04: Management to present a revised set of strategic risks for Board review and endorsement.
Action: 20233101-05: Management to develop a draft risk appetite statement to describe DSNSW risk posture and tolerances and the supporting strategic risk indicators and reporting framework for the Board to consider.
Matters for noting
3.2. Strategic Plan progress with KPI update
Paper taken as read.
4
Operations
Matters for noting
4.1 Dams above the safety threshold – biannual update meeting – 28 March 2023
Paper taken as read.
Action: 20233101-06: Management to amend the ‘Dams Above Safety Threshold’ table to include risk rankings.
4.2 CEO Report
Paper taken as read.
5
General business
5.1 Proposed regional meetings
Taken as read.
Members agreed to the timing and locations for regional visits during 2023.
6
Meeting finalisation
6.1 Review actions
6.2. Meeting evaluation – Ian Landon-Jones
6.3. Next meeting – 28 March 2023, Newcastle
Meeting closed at 12.59pm.