On 4/12/2024, The Optimal Stormwater team took an afternoon to walk the banks of Narrabeen Lake and clean up any rubbish we found… and rubbish we sure did find! Between just 5 Optimal staff and just one hour, we managed to collect all of this litter in just a mere 400m stretch of bank!
It had us all thinking what impact we are having on the environment as a collective, but also how simple it is to reduce our impact, especially at an individual level.
Murray presenting findings from our recent Holistic Review of Water Quality Management. This report was for Melbourne Water and their partnership with Kingston, Casey and Dandenong Councils who are working to protect the Patterson River and Port Phillip Bay.
Murray is seen here presenting our findings in a collaborative workshop. Moving forward, we will be partnering with Melbourne Water to ensure their GPT asset class is high-performing, reliable and well maintained. The project has a future focus where we wish to rectify their existing devices where necessary, and strategically plan for their future stormwater treatment device’s. The ultimate aim is to have a sustainable environment surrounding the Patterson River and Port Phillip Bay.
Our General Manager and Vice President of Stormwater NSW, Murray Powell, led an impactful workshop titled “VIC Guidelines for the Maintenance of Stormwater Treatment Measures.”
This full-day workshop comprehensively covered all aspects of Operations and Maintenance for various stormwater treatment measures. These guidelines, now adopted by Stormwater VIC, have become the Australian industry standard and a primary reference for maintaining stormwater assets nationwide. The workshop was specifically tailored for Maintenance Managers, Cleaning Contractors, and Council staff involved in the sizing, siting, and approval of stormwater treatment measures.
On the conference’s third day, Murray delivered a highly insightful presentation titled “Casey Council Gross Pollutant Trap Rectifications – Lessons for All Councils.” His presentation provided valuable insights and practical lessons for councils, receiving positive feedback from participants and council representatives.
We take great pride in Murray’s contributions and the positive impact our VIC team continues to have on advancing stormwater management practices.
In April 2024, Guy Amos presented to the room of industry members at the 2024 FRANC Conference. Guy presented the outcomes of his completed works where he partnered with Liverpool City Council in the development of a WSUD Masterplan. Guy’s project has provided Liverpool City Council with a comprehensive analysis of their existing stormwater treatment infrastructure. Guy also developed an extensive 10-year capital works program for new stormwater treatment infrastructure along with catchment analysis, MUSIC modelling, cost estimates and designs for a new class of water quality infrastructure. Guy, along with Optimal Stormwater are very excited to see the implementation of this study and the improvement to Liverpool’s waterways.
Dan has been an integral part of the Optimal family since 2018, Dan continues to be a leader in the Stormwater treatment space. Dan has a fantastic work ethic and is a passionate stormwater engineer with a dedication to ensuring the stormwater treatment industry is having a lasting positive impact on the environment.
Murray Powell featured on OceanProtect’s Podcast with Brad Dalrymple in May 2024.
Murray was able to join Brad to discuss all things stormwater pollution, GPTs, Wetlands, Bio-retention and much more. Murray and Brad discuss not only the current issues faced by the industry and Australia’s environment, but Murray’s very yellow jacket!
Find the link to the podcast below:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/19rFqWkSYMGP3N8G620qpn
“Murray Powell is “Mr Stormwater” – with over 30 years experience in protecting our oceans and waterways from stormwater pollution. Murray is Managing Director of Optimal Stormwater, Vice President of Stormwater NSW – and brings an enormous amount of passion and experience (and a very yellow jacket) to the stormwater industry and beyond. In this chat, we get Murray’s insights on stormwater pollution, gross pollutant traps, wetlands, bioretention and what the stormwater industry is doing well and where improvements are necessary.”
See here Murray Powell presenting the NSW Guidelines For the Maintenance of Stormwater Treatment Measures.
Winner – Excellence in Asset Management –Optimal Stormwater and City of Casey Council
Optimal Stormwater has now won our eight awards for Excellence in Asset Management.
Optimal Stormwater undertook Council GPT audit and provided every piece of cleaning information and cleaning frequency to the City of Casey Council for their future cleaning budgeting. Some fantastic outcomes included great opportunities to effectively upgrade existing devices and some that just needed a good cleanout.
2022 Stormwater NSW – Excellence in Asset Management – Roads ACT, Optimal Stormwater
The National Award of Excellence in Asset Management for the Ultimate Stormwater Asset Management Program covering the entire ACT
Below is Oscar Bentham, Murray Powell, Hugh Williamson and Dan Rhodes
Exactly 10 years ago TODAY, Optimal Stormwater won its first StormwaterNSW Awards of Excellence in Asset Management, with you, for our works doing the GPT Auditing for Pittwater Council.
It was our first ever Award, so it holds a dear place in our hearts!
The attached photo is from the Awards Night, with Murray Powell and Melanie Schweckie (Pittwater Council).
You’ve probably never heard of a gross pollutant trap – or GPT – but they do a very important job. GPTs prevent litter and debris from entering our waterways, lakes and ponds
“Let’s work as a team to keep our beaches clean”
Optimal Stormwater and Shoalhaven City Council collaborated with Vincentia High School as part of Plastic Free July to increase awareness around plastic pollution and its impact on receiving waterways.
The students invented an excellent slogan, encouraging everyone in the Shoalhaven to do their bit to reduce plastic waste.
Optimal Stormwater together with the City of Sydney Council has just been announced as the Stormwater Australia – National Awards for Excellence in Asset Management – Winner 2021.
Murray Powell (General Manager Optimal Stormwater) said he was super excited to have won the NSW State Award of Excellence, but this is the next level. Its awesome to be recognised by the industry for this project, and we’re very proud to be partnering with the City of Sydney for many of their stormwater-related works. “We are improving many of the City’s stormwater treatment devices, with real works on the ground, and having an immediate impact with less pollution reaching the harbour. We are doing pollution modelling, we’ve upgraded the cleaning, done GPT auditing, rectifications, plus O&M of their stormwater harvesting schemes, while City of Sydney are providing vision, drive and of course funding to make it all possible. What a great day for City of Sydney, Optimal Stormwater, and the stormwater industry in NSW.”
City of Sydney Council and Optimal Stormwater won the 2019 Stormwater NSW Awards for Excellence in Asset Management and also the 2019 Stormwater NSW President’s Award.
Optimal Stormwater together with City of Sydney Council are well progressed in an extensive campaign to massively reduce stormwater pollution entering the “jewel in Sydney’s crown – Sydney Harbour”.
Murray Powell (General Manager Optimal Stormwater) said he was both surprised and delighted to have been recognised by the industry for this project, and very proud to be partnering City of Sydney for many of their stormwater related works. “We are improving many of the City’s stormwater treatment devices, with real works on the ground, and having an immediate impact with less pollution reaching the harbour. We are integrating modelling, upgraded cleaning, GPT auditing, rectifications, plus O&M of their stormwater harvesting schemes, while City of Sydney are providing vision, drive and of course funding to make it all possible”.
Congratulations to Sutherland Shire Council for winning the Highly Commended in NSW Excellence in the Environment Award 2019/2020. Optimal is proud to partner with Council to delivery this project and achieve such a great outcome for the environment.
High sediment, hydrocarbons and gross pollutants loads from the catchment where impacting water quality resulting in low dissolved oxygen levels and high hydrogen sulphide. The response required increased intertidal flows to improve conditions. Optimal Stormwater was engaged to construct the rock channel allowing intertidal process and restore connectivity of the water bodies.
Memberships was achieved on 1 October 2019 for Optimal Stormwater Pty Ltd to provide Drainage Investigation and Design on RMS projects. We look forward to collaborating with RMS on future works.
The SSROC Preferred supply contract selects the most experienced and qualified company’s to delivery many services for participating Councils. The long term supplier agreements deliver more cost effective outcomes for Council.
Optimal Stormwater has been a major contributor development of the National SQID Operation & Maintenance Guidelines for the Stormwater Industry Association. Due for release in 2020 Optimal will conduct capacity building workshops nationwide.
A practical down to earth ‘nuts and bolts’ guide specifically targeting the needs of operation and maintenance managers and staff involved is already providing to be an amazing resource. This once in an lifetime achievement is celebrated universally as filling the most critical need in the industry.
More money for operation and maintenance of stormwater quality improvement devices urgently needed!!
Stormwater NSW (SWNSW) continues to advocate for more funding for Councils for cleaning of GPTs, wetlands, ponds, filtration. Developers are mandated to include stormwater litter and pollution traps to protect waterways but Councils have limited means to operate this long term.
SWNSW is seeking parity for Councils matching State water authorities such as Sydney Water who have a sustainable fund through direct charges to customers. Until this issue is resolved Council will continued to struggle to take advantage of these critical environmental assets.
We are pleased to announce Optimal Stormwater have received approval under the LG Procurement Panel to provide services under the following categories:
Contact Optimal for any enquires you have services under these categories