AWA 2010 Victoria Water Awards … and the winners are ...

The Hon. Tim Holding, Minister for Water, presented the AWA 2010 Victoria Water Industry Awards which  took place during National Water Week (17-23 October).  National Water Week raises public awareness and improves understanding of water issues in Australia.

The AWA Victorian Branch is committed to acknowledging and promoting the outstanding work achieved by individuals and organisations in the water sector in Victoria.  First delivered in 2009, the Victorian awards have been designed to showcase excellence and leadership in the water industry in Victoria.

East Gippsland Water was awarded the Infrastructure Project Innovation Award for major initiatives undertaken at Woodglen. A new Water Treatment Plant treating up to 20 million litres of drinking water per day is benefitting 24,000 people and delivering an effective water security solution to the area. A highly successful procurement strategy enabled the delivery of this project, an associated aquifer storage and recovery system as well as a new 715 ML off-river water storage. Receiving the award Les Mathieson, MD of East Gippsland Regional Water Corporation, said, “Against the backdrop of the fires and floods we had in East Gippsland three years ago a $67 million package of initiatives was initiated across the region  A number of projects were brought forward to ensure long-term water security and reduce the need for water restrictions. We successfully delivered our Woodglen initiatives ahead of schedule and under budget,” he said.		Les Mathieson, East Gippsland Water    Receiving the 2010 Infrastructure Project Innovation Award for the Woodglen Water Treatment Plant
South East Water was awarded the Program Innovation Award for its Industrial Ecology Program. The Industrial Ecology Program was recognised for the potential water, energy and waste savings that could be achieved. The first of its kind by a water retailer in Australia, the program aims to develop solutions to enable the unwanted waste of one company to become a valuable resource of another– ultimately reducing water use and environmental impacts associated with industrial systems. Through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Sustainability Victoria, South East Water is partnering with industrial customers in the Port Melbourne area to identify industrial ecology opportunities. The judges were also impressed with the level of engagement, cooperation and sharing created by the program.  According to the judges, the program ‘reflects the need to rethink how we approach water and resources.’ Receiving the award Julia Oxley, General Manager, Customer and Community at South East Water said, “We’re very proud of the industrial ecology program, which reinforces our commitment to working in partnership to achieve the best possible outcomes for our customers and the environment,” she said. “This award is testament to the strong emphasis South East Water places on recycling and water reuse, and our hope is that projects like this will open up further opportunities for industrial ecology nationally.”		Julia Oxley, South East Water  Receiving the 2010 Program Innovation Award for Industrial Ecology Program.
Claire Dixon from GHD was awarded the 2010 Young Water Professional of the year Award. Claire has made significant achievements in her seven years since graduation work with Melbourne Water and more recently with GHD as a Senior Water Engineer.  Claire has also spent time working as a water and sanitation adviser with World Vision in Cambodia. The judges were impressed with her active involvement in Engineers without Borders and the AWA Young Water Professionals, her leadership of indigenous issues and recent organisation of a cultural heritage walking tour.  Amongst other indigenous achievements, Ms Dixon is leading a partnership with the Yorta Aboriginal Nation to stimulate increased employment in the water and environmental engineering sectors through a number of initiatives including mentoring, training and community projects. The judges appreciated Claire's raising of water industry awareness and careers through speaking roles with the AWA Young Water Professionals, a community engagement innovative study tour through the Murray Darling Basin in August 2010 and her presentation in Brisbane at the OzWater '10 conference. Receiving the award Claire said “It’s an honour to receive the award. I commend AWA for this initiative and it’s broader engagement of young professionals across the sector. I hope that through this award, other young water professionals will be inspired to use their skills to support disadvantaged communities, both at home and overseas.”		Claire Dixon 2010 Young Water Professional of the Year

Recipients of the AWA Victorian Branch Awards will be automatically entered into the AWA National Awards.  

The winners will be automatically placed into the AWA National Awards program which will be announced at

 Ozwater’11 in Adelaide in May 2011.

Hearty congratulations to the Victoria Awards winners!

Peta Maddy  

Branch President - Victoria 

Australian Water Association