Preparing for SCADA: The Hidden Work Behind a Successful Automation Project
| Wednesday, September 9, 2026 |
| 3:30 PM - 3:50 PM |
| McBerns Papers Room - Newcastle Racecourse |
Overview
Glen Innes Severn Council - Sam Price, Manager Integrated Water Services
Details
Follow Glen Innes Severn Council’s journey from a mechanically controlled water treatment plant to one prepared for a modern Ignition SCADA platform. While SCADA upgrades are often treated as software projects, the greatest challenges can lie within the plant itself. This session explores the ageing electrical infrastructure, inconsistent control philosophies, instrumentation limitations, communications, control voltages and operational requirements uncovered during implementation. It examines the staged upgrades, engineering solutions and decisions required to build a reliable foundation. Attendees will gain practical guidance for preparing existing treatment plants for scalable automation and learn why successful digital transformation begins well before software deployment.
Speaker
Sam Price
Manager Integrated Water Services
Glen Innes Severn Council
Preparing for SCADA: The Hidden Work Behind a Successful Automation Project
3:30 PM - 3:50 PMBiography
Sam Price is the Manager Integrated Water Services at Glen Innes Severn Council, where he leads the operation, maintenance and strategic development of the region's water and wastewater infrastructure. With a strong focus on practical innovation, Sam has been instrumental in delivering major electrical, automation and treatment plant upgrades while maintaining essential services. He is passionate about modernising regional water utilities through technology, collaboration and continuous improvement, with a particular interest in SCADA systems, operational efficiency and building resilient infrastructure for the future.
