Stormwater education and training: a snapshot survey

Thank you for taking part in this survey. Your responses will help us make the best use of our time in the meeting at 3:20 on Thursday 24 May 2018, as part of the upcoming Stormwater Conference.

Here’s what we mean by our terms:
· “training” is for people in work who need to achieve an accepted workplace-related performance benchmark that can be defined and objectively assessed
· “education” refers to a course of tertiary study at a polytechnic or university.

Our questions come under four main headings:

WHO: what can you tell us about yourself?

WHY do we need more stormwater education or training?

WHAT stormwater education or training do we need?

HOW do we deliver the education or training?

Question Title

* 1. Which sector/s of the stormwater industry do you work in? Please tick all that apply:

Design

Construction

Operation and Maintenance

Policy & Planning

Regulatory

Monitoring and Compliance

Just interested

Private sector

Public sector

Less than 5 years experience

Between 5 and 10 years experience

More than 10 years experience

Anything else you want to tell us about yourself? E.g. your driving passion, interests, professional qualifications or …..?

Question Title

* 2. What is the most critical issue you have experienced that indicates a need for more stormwater education or training? Please tick all that apply:

Understanding the principles, purpose and outcomes of stormwater management

Compliance

Integration with land use and development planning

Working with multi-disciplinary teams

Design

Translating design into construction

Construction

Operation and Maintenance

Knowledge of benefits across the four wellbeings (social, cultural, environmental, economic)

Integrating cultural values / mana whenua liaison

Integration with other industries, e.g. solid waste, wastewater, urban design, pedestrian/cycle access etc

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 3. What issue, trends or opportunities do you see that support a need for more stormwater education or training? Please tick those statements you agree with:

People currently in the industry lack adequate baseline knowledge

There are new people coming into the industry with insufficient experience

There is no certification process that distinguishes suitably qualified or experienced people from anyone else

We need Chartered Professionals to sign off on stormwater devices

There is no strategic pathway for our professional development in stormwater

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 4. In the 2017 survey, the key training needs were identified as:

·       Water Sensitive Design (integrated design, construction & maintenance)

·       Hydraulics

·       Modelling (rainfall, flooding, secondary flow paths etc.)

·       Policy (AUP interpretation, NPS-FM, consenting)

Do these needs still apply? Please tick what applies:

I don’t know

Yes, I agree these should be the primary focus for training

No, I think there are other priorities

I think the other priorities are:

Question Title

* 5. Do you know of any existing education or training programmes (in New Zealand or overseas), that could meet these gaps?

Yes

If Yes, please provide details below:

Question Title

* 6. If new training or educational courses are required, how do we make them financially viable in the long term? (For instance: find industry sponsors, support certification through established professional bodies)

Question Title

* 7. How can we deliver training so that regions, as well as main centres, benefit?

Virtual training (webinars etc.)

Online forums / “talk to an expert”

On-line training – formal modules, tests, certificates

Regional road shows

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 8. If there was only one thing you could make happen to improve stormwater skills in New Zealand what would it be?

Thank you! We’ll collate your answers and work with them at the meeting. See you there!

If you have any questions, please email Vicki McEnaney, Manager, Sector Engagement at Water New Zealand, at vicki.mcenaney@waternz.org.nz.