Transcription
2020 / 2021 ANNUAL REPORT
South Gippsland Water proudly acknowledges Aboriginal people asAustralia’s first peoples and the local Traditional Owners,Gunaikurnai and Bunurong, as the original custodiansof the land and water on which we rely.We pay our deepest respects to their Elders, past, present andemerging. We acknowledge the continued cultural, social and spiritualconnections that Aboriginal people have with the lands and waters andrecognise and value that the Traditional Owner groups have cared forand protected them for thousands of generations.In the spirit of reconciliation, we remain committed to working inpartnership with local Traditional Owners to ensure their ongoingcontribution to the future of the water management landscape whilemaintaining their cultural and spiritual connections.
TABLE OF CONTENTSStatement by the Chair and Managing Director.4About Us . 5Organisational Structure . 5Our People. 21Our People . 21Health, Safety & Wellbeing.23The Board. 6Corporate Information.24The Executive Team. 7Role of the Board and Membership.24South Gippsland – The Region. 8Remuneration of Directors and Executive Officers.24Nature and Range of Services Provided. 8Meetings, Committees and Composition of Committees.24Our Purpose.9Our Purpose and Vision to 2023. 9Our Customer Outcomes. 9Water Services.10Water quality. 10Water Consumption 2020/21. 10Bulk Entitlement Compliance. 12Wastewater Services. 14Wastewater Management. 14Director Attendance at Board and Committee Meetings.24Freedom of Information (FoI) .25Local Jobs First: Victorian Industry Participation Policy –Implementation .26Details of Consultancies .26Integrated Water Management (urban) . 27Asset Management .28Details of Information and Communication TechnologyExpenditure .28Letter of Expectations Reporting.29Treated Effluent & Sustainable Water Re-Use. 14Report of Operations .32Environmental Sustainability. 15South Gippsland Region Water Corporation FinancialManagement Compliance Attestation Statement .32Corporate Sustainability Strategy . 15Responsible Body Declaration .32Environment and Sustainability . 15Summary of Financial Results .32Environmental Management System . 15Water Supply Adaptation to Climate Change Variability . 15Performance Report.34Biodiversity . 16Statutory Certification.36Biosolids. 16Carbon Emissions Reduction Pledge. 16Greenhouse Gas Emissions.17Net Energy.17Social Sustainability.18Social Sustainability. 18Aboriginal Cultural Values. 18Water Utility Improvement Program. 18Independent Audit Report.37Financial Report.39Statutory Certificate. 88Auditor General's Report. 89Disclosure Index Checklist.91Customer Surveys. 18Community Partnerships. 18Choose Tap Coalition. 19Customer Consultation. 19Schools Education & Water Efficiency Programs. 19Customer Support Program - Coronavirus (COVID-19) .20Management of Social and Economic Impacts .20Community Service Obligations - Financial Assistance.20Social Procurement Framework .20Annual Report 20213
Statement by the Chair andManaging DirectorWe are pleased to present the Report of Operations for SouthGippsland Water for the year ending 30 June 2021.During this year, the Corporation continued to deliver safe andsustainable water and wastewater services across the region duringa time of global pandemic – coronavirus (COVID-19).We have been deeply concerned for our customers andcommunities during this time, putting in place additional programsto assist with the financial hardship they may have experienced.Last year we advised customers that Essential ServicesCommission had approved our plan to put in place a modest 5 percent price increase for our services from 1 July 2020.Mindful of the impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19) on ourcustomers we delayed this increase until 1 November 2020 andimplemented it in our January 2021 accounts.An internal COVID-19 steering committee helped guide theCorporation to adapt to this new reality – ensuring our staffand customers were safe via our operations, and abiding by allVictorian Government guidelines, including physical distancing,improved hygiene practices, and safe ways of working andmethods to record and understand staff movements.We contributed to Victoria’s fight against this pandemic by assistingthe Victorian Department of Health and Human Services to test theregion’s wastewater where required.While we are an essential service, our staff who could work fromhome did so during restricted periods. Our information andcommunications technology team played a pivotol role supportingour staff in using new technologies and work methods so wecould continue to provide the level of customer service we knowour community values.Today we are continuing to proactively support our customers,commercial and residential, as we look to the future of ourbusiness in a growing region.We want to continue to deliver quality, sustainable water andwastewater services that are essential to the prosperity andwellbeing of our communities and natural environments, at a fairand reasonable cost to our customers.That’s why this year we started talking with our customers andcommunities about the Urban Water Strategy – our 50-year planthat guides our long-term decision-making. Revisited every fiveyears, this is a critical planning tool looking at the constantlychanging outlook in supply and demand for water supplies. Thisyear we’re also undertaking analysis and planning for wastewatersystems as part of the strategy’s development.We have established a new Community Advisory Committeeto help us better understand the needs and wishes of ourcommunities.Despite challenges coronavirus (COVID-19) has presented uswith, we met all of our operational service standards and havecompleted several major projects that will have long-term benefitsfor our communities.These included: A 2.5 million upgrade of Yarram’s sewer pump station 1 million on upgrades to the treated water storages for Toora andFish Creek A 2.5 million investment in solar technology at four of ourfacilities: Inverloch, Korumburra, Lance Creek and Leongatha, ourcommitment to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, energyconsumption and provide a more energy efficient system A 1.9 million investment in Wonthaggi’s sewer system, reliningand replacing old pipes Installation of more than 7,000 meters of liners to pipes inLeongatha, Foster and Korumburra A 1.5 million major upgrade to the pump station responsible fordistributing water to Wonthaggi and Cape Paterson Commissioning the Meeniyan Bird Hide community project at ourMeeniyan wastewater treatment facility.A major upgrade of Leongatha’s Water Treatment Plant at Harvey’sRoad, Ruby, is underway and expected to be complete in 2022.This year also brought some unexpected challenges.An unknown, illegal industrial discharge at Korumburra causedour wastewater treatment plant to fail in February, leading to adischarge above normal environmental limits to Foster Creek.Our Incident Management Team, supported by the entire business,rapidly developed complex logistical solutions to managewastewater and get the plant back to operation as soon as feasible.Similarly, the region-wide, extended power outage in June had allhands-on deck to ensure a continued supply of safe water to ourcustomers.In the context of major infrastructure disruptions, no positiveoutcome is done in isolation. We would like to thank thecommunity and our partners for their assistance during thesemajor events.Our partners are a valued part of our business. We continue tobe a member of a number of strategic partnerships including theGunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLAWAC),the regional Integrated Water Management (IWM) Forum and theSouth Coast Primary Care Partnership.We continue to work with our colleagues in the GippslandRegional Water Alliance, joining with our neighbouring watercorporations to look at how we can all find efficiencies by andshared capability improvements.Additionally, this year, we achieved several corporate milestonesas we mature as a business. These included finalising our Equity,Inclusion and Diversity Plan to help make our workplace one inwhich everyone can bring their best self to their work, and thatas an organisation we reflect the diversity of the communities weserve.We are very proud of the achievements of South Gippsland Waterin 2020/21. We wish to thank all the staff at South Gippsland Waterfor their continued dedication and professionalism.David SchultzPhilippe du PlessisChair Managing Director4South Gippsland Water
About UsOrganisational StructureBoard of DirectorsBoard Committees including the Audit and Risk Management CommitteeManaging DirectorExecutive ManagementHealth, Safety and WellbeingIndustry AwarenessCorporate ComplianceStrategic RelationshipsGeneral ManagerCorporate ServicesGeneral ManagerOperationsGeneral ManagerInfrastructure and PlanningGeneral ManagerPeople Culture and CustomerFinancial ServicesOperations and MaintenanceCapital WorksCustomer ServiceRisk, Governance andComplianceMinor Renewal andReplacementPlanning andDevelopmentPeople and CultureInformation TechnologyWater QualityWorks Design andDocumentationCommunication and CommunityEngagementCompany SecretaryWater SamplingWorks ConstructionServicesEnvironmentAsset PlanningAnnual Report 20215
The BoardThe Directors bring to the Board an appropriate mix of skills and experience.David Schultz – MIEAust, CPEng, GAICDGeoff LakeAppointed 1st October 2011 (Chair)Appointed 1st October 2015David Schultz is a Civil Engineer and is a graduateof the Australian Institute of Company Directorscourse. He is a Director of VicWater and has beena non-Executive Director of Life Saving Victoria.David along with his wife Jan and family, has owned a holidayhouse in lnverloch for over 40 years. He has been actively involvedwith the lnverloch Surf Life Saving Club since it started in 1998,being a member of the first patrol, President of the club from 1999until 2006 and now a life member. Previously, David held variousexecutive roles with GHD Global including Practice Leader ofthe management consulting practice and Senior Project DirectorMiddle East.Susan Friend (Deputy Chair)Appointed 1st October 2017Sue Friend is a Chartered Accountant and Directorat Sapere Research Group, an economics andconsulting firm providing services to governmentand legal clients. She has held senior roles in globalaccounting firms and smaller consulting firms. Sue is currently aboard member of Melbourne Market Authority and Chair of theFinancial Audit and Risk Management committee.Sue was previously on the Board of Yarra Valley Water from2010 to 2017 and was a member of the Risk Management &Audit Committee (including Chair from 2012 to 2016) and itsSustainability, Planning, Infrastructure & Regulation Committee.Sue is also an independent member of Courts Council and is anindependent chair of a number of audit and risk committees in thegovernment sector.Christopher RoseAppointed 1st October 2017Christopher Rose is a Director and Founder of ThreePipe Consulting Pty Ltd, a small consulting firmspecialising in delivering economic developmentthrough sustainable tourism. He has more than 30years’ experience in public land management, 11 years’ executivemanagement experience and acted as Chief Executive Officerof Parks Victoria for one year. He is currently a director of theVictorian Fisheries Authority and the Game Management Authorityand has previously held directorships of Alpine Tourism (DeputyChair), Destination Gippsland, the Gippsland Coastal Board, andthe Alpine Resorts Coordinating Council. Chris holds a Bachelorof Forest Science. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute ofCompany Directors and a Fellow of the Williamson CommunityLeadership Program.Kate YoungGeoff is a practising barrister at the Victorian Bar.He is a Director and past Chair of Vision Super anda councillor and former Mayor of Monash CityCouncil. Geoff is also a director of the AustralianInstitute of Superannuation Trustees and has previously served aspresident of the Australian Local Government Association and theMunicipal Association of Victoria and as a board member of theMetropolitan Fire Brigade.Nick Fleming – BE(Hons) PhD FIEAust GAICDAppointed 1st October 2019Nick is a chartered engineer, managementconsultant and executive educator. He brings tothe board 30 years professional experience workingwith the private and public sectors across Australia,New Zealand, south-east Asia, the UK and Americas. During thistime Nick has held local, international and industry leadership rolesand received many related awards. Nick brings a proven capabilityfor strategy, innovation, complex problem solving and leadershipof change. He has a strong social ethos and commitment toexcellence and positive impact. Prior to establishing his ownadvisory firm, Nick was the Director of Business Innovationat Jacobs Group (Australia) and before that the global ChiefSustainability Officer for Sinclair Knight Merz. Nick previously sat onthe board of the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia(ISCA) and is currently the National President and Chair of theBoard of Engineers Australia. Nick also delivers executive educationon complex public problem solving, systems thinking and effectivepolicy implementation as a member of faculty at the ANZ Schoolof Government.Nicola HepenstallAppointed 1st October 2019Nicola Hepenstall is a highly skilled strategist withextensive experience in C-suite leadership roles,holding Executive Director and Non-executiveDirector positions spanning marketing services,research, education and member organisations. With over 25 yearsexperience in evidence-based consulting, she has worked withState and Federal Government departments and many of Australia’slargest companies helping them navigate the complexity of thecommunications environment and develop strategies to enhancebusiness and social outcomes. Nicola is currently a Director of TheFront Project and has previously held directorships of HaileyburyCollege, Clemenger Group Limited and Chair of the Association ofMarket & Social Research Organisations. Nicola holds a Bachelorof Arts (Honours in Psychology) and is a Graduate of the AustralianInstitute of Company Directors. She was the Australian MarketingInstitute’s Certified Practising Marketer of the Year 2018.Appointed 1st October 2015Kate Young is a town planner at Crowther &Sadler. Kate is currently on the Board at GippslandGrammar, is a former Chair of the GovernanceCommittee, and is a former Director of the EastGippsland Catchment Management Authority. Kate also servedon the Gippsland Lakes Ministerial Advisory Committee andEast Gippsland Shire Inundation and Adaption ManagementProject Steering Group Committee. Kate has a Bachelor ofArts (Psychology), post graduate qualifications in Planning andEnvironment, Arts (Criminology) and is a graduate of the AustralianInstitute of Company Directors.6Jennifer Ryan – BEng(Civil), MBA, GAICDAppointed 1st October 2019Jennifer Ryan is a Civil Engineer, and has morethan 25 years’ experience in the water and civilinfrastructure industries. She has held seniorleadership positions in both government utilityand private construction sectors, delivering multi-million dollarcapital works programs throughout Victoria and ACT. Jennifer hasachieved project and industry awards during her career, includingthe Civil Contractors Federation Training Awards 2017 Women inCivil, Excellence Award, and the NAWIC Awards 2012 (Vic & Tas)for Outstanding Achievement in Construction. She holds a Masterof Business Administration (Technology Management), a Bachelorof Civil Engineering and Computing, and is a Graduate of theAustralian Institute of Company Directors.South Gippsland Water
The Executive TeamManaging DirectorPhilippe du PlessisPhilippe is responsible for direction of theExecutive Management Team and the corporateand strategic functions of South Gippsland Water.These include strategic relationships, strategicmarketing, the Corporation’s performance and brand, Health,Safety and Wellbeing, awareness of future trends in the waterindustry and contact with the Corporation’s key stakeholders.General ManagerCorporate ServicesTristan PhamTristan manages the finance, strategy, risk,governance, and ICT functions. The keyresponsibility of the General Manager CorporateServices is that of custodian of the Corporation’s assets andfinancial resources on behalf of all stakeholders.General ManagerInfrastructure and PlanningMark LynchMark is responsible for the planning, direction andmanagement of the Corporation’s Capital WorksProgram covering a broad range of projects. Otherfunctions under this role include asset planning,managing the Corporation’s Urban Water Strategy includingthe Drought Response Program, and engineering and technicalservices.Annual Report 2021General ManagerOperationsRavi RaveendranRavi manages service delivery to our customers.He manages the operational and maintenancefunctions of water treatment plants, wastewatertreatment plants and water and wastewater networks. Hisresponsibilities include compliance with water and wastewaterquality guidelines, site safety, environment and catchmentmanagement, and specialist services to major customers.General ManagerPeople, Culture and CustomerAnnette KatiforisAnnette’s role provides strategy advice aboutoperational management of programs, developingworkforce skills, diversity and inclusion programs,workforce planning and design, and contemporaryhuman resources operations. Annette is also responsible formanaging the Customer Service function including enablingresponsive local customer call centre and reception services,customer connections, the issuing and managing customeraccounts and revenue and the Customer Support Program forcustomers experiencing changes and challenges. During theyear the Communications and Engagement function was movedinto the People, Culture and Customer department, bringing inresponsibility for customer and community engagement andeducation programs, marketing and public relations, publicationsand the SGW website.7
South Gippsland – The RegionSouth Gippsland is locatedaround two hours’ drive fromMelbourne. The region hasa key focus on the naturalenvironment with twointernationally recognisedNational Parks, WilsonsPromontory and Tarra Bulga,north east of Yarram. SouthGippsland is a popular touristdestination, well known forits coastal resorts such asInverloch, Cape Paterson,Waratah Bay, Sandy Point andPort Albert.Nature and Range of Services ProvidedThe COVID-19 pandemichas had a significantimpact on the Bass Coastand South Gippslandeconomies, particularlyin the tourism and eventssectors. The scale of theimpact from the pandemichas varied dependingupon industry, location,customer base, businesspreparedness and ability torespond.Our service area covers 4,000 square kilometres and its totaloperation in 2020/21 comprised:Headworks Water catchments with a total area of 1,234 square kilometresWater Services 8 separate water supply systems8 water treatment plants750 km of water mains13 reservoirs and 18 service storages4,631 million litres (ML) annual volume of drinking water suppliedto customers servicing 22,405 water assessments (accounts) over 22 rural centres.Dairy farming is the majorindustry in the region. It sitsalongside a range of other important agricultural and horticulturalenterprises including beef, lamb, wine, vegetable production, and acommercial fishing industry.Wastewater ServicesAs a regional service provider South Gippsland Water supportseconomic development with the aim of enabling strongcommunities. The Corporation has, and continues to be, proactivein responding to the impacts of Coronavirus (COVID-19) whileproviding environmentally sustainable water and wastewaterservices.NYORA 10 conventional wastewater collection systems1 vacuum wastewater system2 pressure sewer systems11 sewerage treatment plants1 dedicated saline trade waste system520km of wastewater mains5 marine environment outfalls3 inland water discharge pointsCollecting 4,364 ML and treating around 3,437 ML of wastewaterServicing 20,171 wastewater assessments (including trade waste) in16 townships and surrounding districtsPOOWONGLOCHRuby CreekSystemLance CreekSystemKORUMBURRALEONGATHADevonNorthTarwin DumbalkSystemKoonwarraTarwin MeeniyanSystemWONTHAGGIYARRAMMEENIYANConnectionto MelbourneWater SupplySystemINVERLOCHi verTarwALBERTONAgnes RiverSystemDeep CreekSystemRinFOSTERTOORAWELSHPOOLBattery CreekSystemFish CreekCAPEPATERSONTarra OOLSalineTradeWasteOutfallWaratahBayTOWNS WITH WATER & WASTEWATER SERVICESVICTORIAWILSONSPROMONTORYNATIONALPARKTowns with Water Services OnlyTown with Wastewater OnlyWater systems8South Gippsland Water
Table 1. SGW localities and ServicesPopulation Served(Permanent)CentresWaterSewerageCustomers BilledPort FranklinPort WelshpoolToora, Agnes, BennisonWelshpool, HedleyFish CreekKorumburra1342097813318274,469Customers Billed1092965222062092,374Foster1,842953Inverloch, Wattle BankCape PatersonWonthaggi, South Dudley, Glen Alvie,Kongwak, Lance CreekLochNyoraPoowongKoonwarraLeongatha, Kardella, Leongatha South, RubyAlbertonDevon North, Tarra ValleyPort Albert, LangsboroughYarramDumbalkMeeniyanWaratah Bay5,4378914,9011,278Supplied FromAgnes RiverAgnes RiverAgnes RiverAgnes RiverBattery CreekCoalition CreekDeep Creek / FosterDamLance CreekLance Creek8,7305,115Lance 16159363214833,3531511254051,202109278Not servicedLittle BassLittle BassLittle BassRuby CreekRuby CreekTarra RiverTarra RiverTarra RiverTarra RiverTarwin RiverTarwin RiverN/A120203148Not serviced3,169103Not serviced3431,088Not serviced24611536,81922,405TotalNot serviced278289124Not serviced2,0498664,8751,26220,171Notes:1. Population Served based on ABS 2017 Census data. The ABS method of calculation of population is based on State Suburbs (SSC) and may not always reflect the exact sewer/water district.2. Growth calculation based on Bass Coast Shire’s Estimated Residential Population forecast of 2.85 per cent growth per annum, South Gippsland Shire Council Shire’s forecast growth of1.36 per cent per annum and Wellington Shire Council’s forecast growth of 0.88 per cent per annum.Our PurposeOur Purpose and Vision to 2023PurposeWe provide sustainable water services that are essential to the prosperityand wellbeing of our communities and natural environments.VISION2023VisionOur customers value the services and outstanding experiences proudlydelivered by our capable and committed teams.To fulfil our 2023 VisionDelivering on Government priorities, our Achievement Culture and ProductivePractices deliver Outstanding Customer experiences and Valued Services thatcontribute to Thriving Communities and a Healthy Environment.Our Customer OutcomesReliabilityWe will plan for the future, be reliable and minimise unplanned interruptions to servicesCustomer IntegrityWe will act with honesty, respect and strive to balance affordability, value for money and fairnessEnvironmentBe environmentally sustainable and adapt to a future impacted by climate variabilityWaterProvide safe, clean drinking waterWastewaterProvide a safe wastewater service that contributes to the livability of our communitiesAnnual Report 20219
Water ServicesWater qualitySouth Gippsland Water maintained its water quality monitoringprogram consistent with the requirements of the Safe DrinkingWater Act 2003 and the Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015.Compliance detailed in the table below is based on the numberof water sampling localities complying with requirements of theSafe Drinking Water Regulations 2015 in the period 1st July 2020to 30th June 2021. Further details of drinking water compliance foreach distribution system are reported annually to the Departmentof Health and Human Services and are available on SouthGippsland Water’s website.Compliance with Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015Table 2. 2020/21 compliance with Save Drinking Water regulationsPercentage of localitiesreceiving compliant waterin 2020/21ParameterWater Quality StandardEscherichia coli (E. coli)All samples of drinking water collected to contain no E. coli per 100millilitres of drinking water with the exception of any false positive sample100%TurbidityThe 95th percentile of results for samples in any 12 month period must be 5.0 Nephelometric Turbidity Units100%Trihalomethanes (Total)Less than or equal to 0.25mg/L of drinking water100%All other parameters as detailed inSouth Gippsland Water’s drinkingwater monitoring programDrinking water is not to contain an algal toxin, pathogen, or any substanceor chemical in such amounts as may pose a risk to human health100%Water Consumption 2020/21Corporate water consumption2020/21 Corporate water consumption isreduced due to:Corporate water consumption for 2020/21 is based on the Foster head office andannex. The buildings have the capacity to accommodate 60 full-time equivalent staff(including contractors) and includes Foster head office and annex consumption only. COVID-19 working from home requirements Extensive maintenance undertaken at theFoster office.All other depots, workshops, treatment plants (water and wastewater), pumpingstations and infrastructure facilities are specifically not included.Table 3. 2020/21 Foster office water consumption 19/20Actual2018/19Consumed [Kilolitre (kL) 1,000 litres]260kL53kL-80%149kL286kLKilolitres consumed per full-time equivalent staff member4.8kL88kL-82%2.48kL4.4kLWater Consumed Per Unit of Office SpaceWater consumed per unit of office space (est 1,113sqm) for 2020/21 was 47.62 litres.Regional water consumptionTable 4. 2020/21 Total Potable Water Consumption by LocationAlberton/Port Albert Yarram/Devon NorthDumbalk2020/212019/202018/192017/182016
A 1.9 million investment in Wonthaggi's sewer system, relining and replacing old pipes Installation of more than 7,000 meters of liners to pipes in Leongatha, Foster and Korumburra A 1.5 million major upgrade to the pump station responsible for . illegal industrial discharge at Korumburra caused our wastewater treatment plant .
