Pre-Conference Workshops
franc.2026 is offering pre-conference workshops on Tuesday, 27 October 2026. You be able to register for these through the Conference Registration Form shortly.
MUSICX Transition Training
Half-Day Workshop
eWater MUSIC™ is Australia’s leading stormwater modelling software, used by councils, consultants, and developers to design water-sensitive urban developments. This workshop, facilitated by eWater's expert hydrologists, is purposefully designed to introduce long term users of MUSIC 6 (or classic) to MUSICX, to help them to adopt the latest version of MUSIC. Participants will become familiar with the MUSICX interface, learn about key differences between MUSIC 6 and MUSICX and discover how to take advantage of new capabilities in MUSICX. Participants will leave the workshop with the knowledge and confidence to transition to MUSICX.
Attendees should bring their own laptop.
Presenter
Dr Mukta Sapkota is a Principal Hydrologist at eWater with over 15 years of experience in urban water systems, Water Sensitive Urban Design, stormwater treatment modelling, water quality modelling, rainfall–runoff modelling, and river system planning. She specialises in hydrological modelling, integrated urban water management, and climate change impact assessment, with a strong focus on translating science into practical decision-support tools.
Dr Sapkota has held technical leadership roles, including leading the development of MUSICX, and is a recognised trainer for eWater’s tools, such as MUSIC, MUSICX, eWater Source, and Urban Developer. Dr Sapkota plays a central role in capacity building, designing and delivering training that combines hands-on, problem-based learning with real-world applications.
Her work spans catchment to urban scales, integrating hydrology, water quality, and system planning to support sustainable outcomes. She brings a collaborative, systems-focused approach to bridging research, policy, and practice.
Dr Sapkota holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Tribhuvan University, Nepal, a Master’s in Water Engineering and Management from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand, and a PhD in Environmental Hydrology and Water Resources from the University of Melbourne, Australia.
Trudy Green is eWater’s Head of Partnerships, leading collaboration with governments, agencies, and organisations that rely on eWater’s hydrological modelling platforms, MUSIC™ and Source™. Her focus is on building strong partnerships that ensure these critical tools continue to evolve and meet the changing needs of Australia’s water sector and modelling community.
With more than 25 years’ experience across the water industry, Trudy brings deep expertise in water resource management, stormwater, catchment management, and strategic water planning. Her career spans key roles with Sydney Water, the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority, and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
Career highlights include contributing to Sydney’s first cross-government water security plan, embedding lessons from the Millennium Drought into River Murray operations, and helping drive major enhancements to both the eWater Source and MUSIC platforms to reflect contemporary water management practice.
Trudy holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours) and a Master of Natural Resource Management.
Registration
Member
$ 225
- Half Day Workshop
- Digital Course materials
- Tea and coffee on arrival
- Lunch and Afternoon tea
Non-Member
$ 300
- Half Day Workshop
- Digital Course materials
- Tea and coffee on arrival
- Lunch and Afternoon tea
Aquatic Plants for Constructed Wetlands
Full Day Workshop
Aquatic plants are an integral component of stormwater treatment wetlands, and they are fundamental to their performance.
Participants will gain knowledge on aquatic plants to enable improved wetland design and maintenance programs.
This workshop will detail:
- how plants provide stormwater treatment services,
- the conditions required for their establishment and ongoing health,
- the importance of water level management and impacts of poor hydrology,
- Information on key aquatic plant species
A site visit to a wetland will be undertaken to observe and identify the key aquatic plants in the field and discuss their key functions.
This workshop is for wetland civil and landscape designers, and asset managers undertaking wetland system condition assessment and management.
Presenter
David Carew is an ecologist with expertise in wetland construction and management, vegetation assessment and landscape management for ecological and biodiversity outcomes. He has worked across non-profit, private and government sectors for more than 30 years providing policy/ project natural resource management advice, ecological input to designs and stormwater asset management. His professional focus is on wetland design and management, aiming to deliver healthy aquatic vegetation for biodiversity and stormwater treatment outcomes.
David is a member of the current team (2026) reviewing the Melbourne Water Constructed Wetland Manual leading the updating of the vegetation components of the manual.
Registration
Member
$ 575
- Full Day Workshop
- Digital Course materials
- Tea and coffee on arrival
- Morning tea, Lunch and Afternoon tea
Non-Member
$ 650
- Full Day Workshop
- Digital Course materials
- Tea and coffee on arrival
- Morning tea, Lunch and Afternoon tea
Applying the Risk-based Framework
Full Day Workshop
The workshop is targeted to build capacity for council officers, government agencies, consultants, and industry to unpack the Risk-based Framework (RbF) and understand how and when to apply the 5 steps for the framework. We will be presenting tools and resources that will support uptake and delivery of the RbF.
Participants should bring a laptop to access the documents.
Presenter
Registration
Member
$ TBC
- Full Day Workshop
- Digital Course materials
- Tea and coffee on arrival
- Morning tea, Lunch and Afternoon tea
Non-Member
$ TBC
- Full Day Workshop
- Digital Course materials
- Tea and coffee on arrival
- Morning tea, Lunch and Afternoon tea
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Key Dates
Call for Abstracts Closes
Friday, 8 May 2026
Early Bird Registration Closes
Friday, 31 July 2026
Workshops
Tuesday 27 October 2026
Conference Dates
Wednesday 28- Thursday 29 October 2026
Technical Tour
Friday 30 October 2026
Conference Convenor
Stormwater NSW
in Partnership with
ACT Government
Available from
Conference Secretariat
GEMS Event Management Australia
ABN 30 615 654 629
Contact us
For all registration and accommodation inquiries call 02 9744 5252 or email registration@gemsevents.com.au
