May 2021 Board meeting minutes

1.1 Appointed members only 

1.2 Acknowledgement of country and welcome

1.3 Apologies - Nil

1.4 Conflicts of Interest / Disclosure of Interest 

Disclosure of interest: Member, Shane McGrath is commencing a project to inspect Tallawara Ash dams.

Disclosure of interest: Member, Shane McGrath is presenting a webinar to WaterNSW on behalf of ANCOLD.

1.5 Previous minutes and actions

Minutes and actions were accepted following a couple of amendments.

Strategy/Stakeholder

Matters for Decision 

2.1 Very low and low consequence dams over 15m

Peter Boyd presented a paper outlining the options, advantages and disadvantages of dedeclaring dams over 15m with a very low and low consequence category.

Members agreed to accept Option 2:

Either de-declare dams already declared or not declare dams that haven't been declared, where that dam is more than 15m high and subject to:

• If the consequence category is assessed as very low or low only
• The consequence category assessment is considered ‘robust’
• Ongoing monitoring and checking that the consequence category assessment remains current.

Action: 20211805-01 - Dams Safety NSW to prepare a paper, for information only, and present at future meeting on: consequence category assessment internal review process and letter for declared dam owners.

Action: 20211805-02 - Dams Safety NSW to prepare a simple table detailing cost differential and present to Members at the next meeting.

Action: 20211805-03 - Dams Safety NSW to check what regulatory powers are available to require dam owners to regularly check the consequence of failure of their dams and report back to Members.

Action: 20211805-04 – Dam Safety NSW to develop and produce guidance material on what constitutes a ‘robust’ CCA.

Matters for discussion

2.2 Strategic risk deep dive – capacity and capability

Peter Boyd presented the strategic deep dive – capacity and capability.

Action: 20211805-05 - Dams Safety NSW to make changes recommended by Members.

2.3 Coal Ash Dam inquiry recommendations

Chris Salkovic presented a report in response to the Coal Ash Dam inquiry recommendations. Of the 16 recommendations, two related to Dams Safety NSW.

Action: 20211805-06 - Dams Safety NSW to reframe management response to recommendation 5 as per Members recommendations.

2.4 Program mandate

The draft program mandate was presented by Chris Salkovic. Members raised some concerns about core funding and agreed that the mandate be updated to reflect their concerns.

Action: 20211805-07 - Dams Safety NSW to update program mandate with Members’ recommendations.

Action: 20211805-08 - Dams Safety NSW to provide progress updates on program mandate to Members at future meetings.

Governance 

Matters for Discussion

3.1 Safety Case for declared dams

Peter Boyd presented the safety case for declared dams papers. Members agreed with recommendation presented: That Dams Safety NSW revisit the applicability of safety cases to the dams safety framework in the medium to longer term.

Action: 20211805-09 - Dams Safety NSW to monitor and report back to Members those dams for which a safety case may be useful in future.

Operations 

Matters for Discussion

4.1 How capability maturity assessment outputs will be used moving forward

The Operations team presented an overview of how the capability maturity assessment data could be used. Members agreed that the data collected was very useful and that Dams Safety NSW should continue to look at how to use the data

Action: 20211805-10 - Dams Safety NSW to discuss at the July strategic planning workshop how the data collected in capability maturity assessments can be used internally and externally.

Matters for Noting 

4.2 CEO Report

Chris Salkovic presented the CEO Report.

Note: Alex Fisher was recused from the meeting at 12:50pm while Members discussed WaterNSW activities. Ross invited Alex to return once the WaterNSW related discussions had concluded (at 1pm).

Action: 20211805-11 – Dams Safety NSW to invite Water NSW to next meeting to present Warragamba Dam’s risk assessment.

4.3 Key Performance Indicators and projects

Nil actions

General Business 

5.1 July meeting

Margaret Hynes updated the Members on the itinerary for the July face-to-face meeting.

Action: 20211805-12 - Dams Safety NSW to confirm what PPE is required for site visits.

Action: 20211805-13 - Dams Safety NSW to co-ordinate the purchase of PPE for Members.

5.2 CEO’s development plan

Members agreed to support the CEO’s attendance at Company Directors Course.

Meeting Finalisation

6.1 Review actions taken – completed

6.2 Meeting evaluation – by John Stacpoole, next meeting will be reviewed by Rob O'Neill.

6.3 Next meeting – 22 June - Virtual

6.4 Meeting closed – 1.30pm