Meeting open

1.1 Appointed members only

1.2 Acknowledgement of country and welcome

1.3 Apologies - Nil.

1.4 Conflicts  of interest/ Disclosures

No conflicts or disclosures were submitted.

Action 20210511-01: Circulate Conflict of Interest Management Plan to members.

Previous minutes and actions

Members approved the previous minutes with a minor amendment for action 20211409-04. New member, Julie Garland McLellan, abstained from accepting the previous minutes as the meeting predated her appointment.

Action 20210511-02: Management team to amend action 20211409-04 to read: Management team to explore what information is appropriate for publication.

Strategy/Stakeholder

Matters for Discussion

2.1 Publishing information

Olivia Masson presented a policy paper on publishing information, highlighting what other regulators do (i.e., Resource Regulator, NRAR and EPA) and the GIPA process.

Members thanked Olivia for the work that had gone into the paper. Members did not agree to the recommendations of the paper as they are seeking a more transparent approach and requested further analysis and a subsequent discussion as part of the strategic planning process.

Action 20210511-03: Management team to analyse IPART's policy stance for sharing information and report back to members.

Action 20210511-04: Members and management team to discuss publishing information at February strategic planning workshop.

Matters for Decision

3.1 Internal Audit and Risk Management Policy requirement - Treasury Policy TPP 20-08.

Peter Boyd presented a paper seeking approval to apply for a small agency exemption against core requirements of Treasury Policy TPP 20-08.

Members noted their desire to comply with the intent of the policy.

Member’s decision

Approved the recommendation to apply for a small agency exemption against core requirements of Treasury Policy TPP20-08.

3.2 Exemptions to the risk management framework for dams that are not complex

Peter Boyd presented a paper seeking approval for a policy for granting exemptions to the risk management framework requirements of clause 14(8) of the Dams Safety Regulation 2019 (ie quantitative risk analysis, SFAIRP risk reduction measures, and cost benefit analysis).

Member’s decision

Approved policy that Dams Safety NSW will not consider exemptions under clause 14(8) until at least one full application of the risk management framework has been completed for a declared dam.

Action 20210511-06: Management team to publish a fact sheet describing the importance of undertaking a full application of the risk management framework for dam owners, and that the cost and complexity of undertaking this is proportionate to the complexity of the dam (i.e., simpler dams will incur lower costs and require a narrower range of expertise).

Operations

Matters for Decision

4.1 Declaration and de-declaration of dams

Jason Porter presented a paper seeking approval to have one dam declared and 6 dams de-declared.

Member’s decision

Approve the de-declaration of 6 declared dams.

Not approve the declaration of one dam based on the confidence in the robust consequence category assessment.

Members requested that future declaration or de-declaration decisions to be accompanied with a statement that a robust consequence category assessment has been used to support the recommendation.

Action 20210511-07: Management team to refer to the criteria associated with the decision from May meeting regarding dams >15m high when declaring or de-declaring dams.

Action 20210511-08: Management team to investigate ways of improving access to and keeping records of previous decisions.

Matters for Noting

4.2 CEO Report

Chris Salkovic presented the CEO Report.

Presentation noted by the members.

4.3 Key Performance Indicators and projects

Chris Salkovic presented the key performance indicators and projects. Presentation noted by members.

4.4 Process to bring dams below safety threshold

Jason Porter presented the progressive risk reduction principles for Dams with risks above ‘Safety Threshold’. Dams Safety NSW will seek to maintain open communication with declared dam owners as they proceed with their assessments in order to understand their views as they are being formed.

Members noted the principles for progressive risk reduction principles and thanked Jason for the work done thus far.

Action 20210511-10: Management team to update progressive compliance actions escalation principles to drive risk reductions for dams with risks above ‘Safety Threshold’

General Business

5.1 2022 Meeting schedule

Margaret presented proposed meeting schedule for 2022. Members agreed to the dates.

Action 20210511-11: Management team to send invites to members for 2022 meetings.

Action 20210511-12: Management team to consider where other focus items might be scheduled throughout the year (e.g., review of members effectiveness, strategic plan review, compliance management system, field trip).

5.2 Strategic workshop dates

Virtual strategic workshop confirmed for the 14 December 2021.

Face-to-face strategic workshop confirmed for 9 February 2022.

Meeting finalisation

6.1 Review actions taken

6.2 Meeting evaluation, by Rob O'Neill

6.3 Next meeting – 14 December 2021

Closed at 12.30pm