North-west Queensland communities from Mornington Island to Mount Isa will play host to the thirteenth annual Queensland Water Directorate’s Water Connections Tour next month.

The event is a chance for water industry and State Government representatives to learn more about the issues faced in providing water and sewerage services in remote communities.

Starting in Normanton on May 14, the group of 10 will criss-cross the north-west Queensland local government areas of Carpentaria, Mornington, Burke, Doomadgee and Mount Isa before finishing in Cloncurry on Friday, May 18.

Queensland Water Directorate (qldwater) chief executive officer Dave Cameron said the Water Connections Tour played a crucial part in promoting sector collaboration, showing key decision-makers in government the issues members were faced with on a daily basis – particularly in remote locations.

 “Regional providers are often fiscally and operationally challenged and any steps we can take to help government understand community drivers and capacity to pay for services help lead to a smarter regulatory and policy environment,” Mr Cameron said.

“The tour will provide valuable technical information and knowledge exchange as well as a chance to raise issues face-to-face with representatives from the departments of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Department of Environment and Science, Local Government Association of Queensland and qldwater.

“We are very happy that the State continues to participate and, as costs increase, organisations like Dial Before You Dig have been able to support this initiative through sponsorship. It is the eighth year DBYD has invested in the Tour and our broader Water Connections Events program.”

The tour will finish with a mini conference and regional final of the Ixom Best of the Best Queensland Water Taste Test in Cloncurry.