Cowra Shire Council

Trainee – Water & Wastewater Treatment Plants

Position Status:                    Full Time, Term Contract (Two Year Traineeship)

Hours of Work:                     38 Hour week with a nine-day fortnight

Closing Date:                        5.00pm Sunday 6 July 2025              

About Council

Cowra Council employs over 200 full time equivalent staff, our vision is to be a leading, innovative and creative community, proud of our place in history and offering opportunity with the best of country living. The region enjoys a range of economic, social, educational and health services with a welcoming community that embraces new members from all backgrounds. We strive to provide, maintain and extend Council services to improve the quality of life for residents throughout the Shire. We aim to actively lead, facilitate and foster sustainable development and wealth generating opportunities through agricultural, industrial, commercial and tourism growth.

About the Opportunity

Are you looking to kickstart your career in Cowra and obtain a nationally recognised qualification whilst receiving on the job training? Are you passionate and committed to completing a traineeship and successfully carrying out all of the necessary training requirements? Then a traineeship with Cowra Council may be the opportunity for you! Our Traineeship program offers a unique chance to make a start on your working life.

 An exciting opportunity exists for a highly motivated and enthusiastic, recent local Year 12 school graduate to join the Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant team at Cowra Council, as a Trainee. During this traineeship you will learn how to operate our water & wastewater treatment plants which service the community. Applicants must have an interest in Chemistry and Biology with a desire and commitment to successfully completing a two-year traineeship and gaining a Certificate III in Water Industry Operations, covering the below units;

• Operate and control activated sludge processes
• Operate and control nutrient removal processes
• Operate and control solids handling processes
• Perform laboratory testing
• Sample and test wastewater
• Operate and control coagulation and flocculation processes
• Operate and control sedimentation and clarification processes
• Operate and control granular media filters
• Participate in WHS hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control processes
• Assess, implement and report environmental procedures
• Apply the risk management principles of the water industry standards, guidelines and legislation

To be successfully considered for this role, you will have;

• A willingness to contribute toward the success of the team
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills
• Strong work ethic with a commitment to health, safety and environmental work practices
• The ability to follow direction and procedures, while showing initiative
• Hold a current minimum P1 manual driver’s licence 
• Either hold or be working towards a White Card 
• The ability & commitment to join Council's on call roster for the Treatment Plants once trained
• Intermediate to advanced mathematical skills
• High level of computer competency (Training will be delivered online through Microsoft Office Teams with TAFE NSW. Therefore, applicants must have a high level of computer competency to carry out this traineeship.) 

The Trainee - Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator is responsible for assisting in operating and maintaining Council's Treatment Plants in accordance with regulatory requirements such as the Environmental Protection Act (EPA), Environment Licences, Public Health Act and Drinking Water Quality and Recycled Water Management. 

Key responsibilities of this role include;

• Assisting with monitoring of flow meters, pressure gauges, power usage and water & wastewater quality
• Taking samples and carrying out routine analyses
• Assist in preparing reports and log details of plant operations
• Perform routine servicing and cleaning of water storage facilities, plants and pipes, and repair faults in water supply and storage systems
• Participating in the rotating on-call roster which will include weekends and public holidays (requirement for this position, once trained in the role)
• Participate in offsite training for specialist type qualifications eg Fluoride, Asbestos Awareness, Confined Space

The appointment will be in accordance with the Local Government (State) Award and Cowra Shire Council's policies and conditions of employment. 

If you're ready to make a meaningful impact and join our team that values safety, innovation, and community, we'd love for you to apply!

The Benefits

 Benefits of working at Council include:

• Fortnightly Rostered Day Off (RDO)
• Four weeks of Annual Leave per year
• Access to Long Service Leave after five years
• Three weeks sick leave per year
• Corporate Wellbeing Programs, including Fitness Passport and Health and Wellbeing initiatives including two (2) Health and Wellbeing days per year.
• Employee Benefits Program 
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid parental leave

In addition, we value work-life balance and offer opportunities for training and professional development.

Position Details 

Two Year, Term Contract position.

Position Description

Please click on the link for a full copy of the POSITION DESCRIPTION.

Further Enquiries

Please contact Supervisor - Treatment Plants, Paul Gregg on 0428 674 238.

Applications close 5.00pm, Sunday 6 July 2025.  Late applications will not be accepted.

 How to Apply

Before you apply for this position, please read the position description carefully to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position. 

You will be required to answer questions relating to the selection criteria on the online application below, your answers will be accessed & rated, so please ensure you take time in providing your answers and give examples of demonstrated experience when requested. 

You will also be asked to attach your current resume which should include two referees. Please note that you cannot submit your application without attaching your resume.  A cover letter is not mandatory, but may be added if so desired. 

Pre-employment Screening

In the event you are shortlisted for an interview, and are then selected to progress to the next stage following interview, you must be prepared to undergo the following pre-employment screening processes as part of the selection process:

• A pre-employment physical examination, including hearing , drug & alcohol assessments

• Please include two work related referees in your resume for reference checking purposes - please ensure your referee details are current

• Council may also check authenticity of certificates and qualifications

Privacy Statement

As part of the recruitment process, Cowra Shire Council will be collecting information about you. This information is private information for the purposes of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act. This information will be included in the recruitment file and only accessed by members of the Recruitment Selection Panel. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

Council aims to ensure fair, equitable and non-discriminatory consideration for all applicants, regardless of sex, ethnic or racial origin, or physical disability.