Now serving one-fifth of Victoria’s population, the newly launched Greater Western Water (GWW) plans to consolidate $1.5 billion of investment across the western region in the next five years, while supporting regional employment.
In July 2021, the former Western Water and City West Water joined to form the new utility in the regions’ first water authority integration in 26 years. The integration is expected to save costs and help reduce customer bills moving forward.
New GWW Managing Director Maree Lang will oversee the delivery of services to communities across inner Melbourne areas to the fast-growing outer west regions; the existing customer base of 580,000 is forecast to reach 690,000 by 2028.
“It is an incredible honour to lead and serve an authority that spans such a wide region. I look forward to delivering better water services to the western region and serving this new organisation that will meet the needs of 1.2 million people,” Lang said.
“I will use our size and the full resources available to GWW to continue to deliver the water quality and security, affordability, reliability and continuous supply you deserve.
“We are lucky to have a diligent and dedicated expert team and I look forward to supporting each one of them to produce their best for you, our customers.”
The authority spans Melbourne’s CBD, inner and north-west suburbs to the Melton–Sunbury growth corridor, as well as Bacchus Marsh and the Macedon Ranges.
The integration follows long-term planning by the Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning and the former authorities around how to best cater for growth in the regions and deliver high quality, affordable water services.
Acting Minister for Water Richard Wynne said the integration will help to foster resilience and prosperity in the western region.
“Greater Western Water means better service, water security, regional job retention and lower bills for the 1.2 million people it serves,” he said.
“This new water authority is part of our plan to ensure that Melbourne and regional communities are serviced by infrastructure and authorities that are ready for the future.”
The Sunbury office of the new GWW corporation will be redeveloped to enable the space to take on 50 additional staff, with all staff following the integration retained and integrated into the new utility.