Environmental Management
The nature of G-MW's business means that operational activities
are intrinsically linked to the environment over a large geographical
area. G-MW manages its interactions with the environment through
its Environmental Management System (EMS) which prioritises issues
according to risk and provides a framework through which the
organisation can continually improve its environmental performance.
G-MW's EMS is certified to the International Standard for Systems
AS/NZ ISO14001 and has maintained this certification throughout
2010/11, with two external audits identifying no non-conformances
with the standard. In 2010/11 good progress was made with all of
G-MW's environmental objectives and targets.
Greenhouse Emissions
G-MW continues to reduce its emissions, with more fuel efficient fleet
vehicles contributing to lower emissions from transport. Compared
with urban Water Corporations, G-MW has relatively low emissions
as the Corporation does not treat drinking water or sewage. G-MW's
Greenhouse Emissions Action Plan (2008) set a target to cap
greenhouse emissions at 75% of 2005/06 levels by 2013. G-MW
is on track to meet this target.
- Electricity and gas to run offices and depot and
deliver water to customers.
- Fuel consumed by the vehicle fleet.
- In some years temporary pumping can make a
significant contribution to greenhouse emissions,
but this was not the case in 2010/11.
The Action Plan also sets a long-term goal for
the organisation to be carbon neutral by 2050.
The mechanism for achieving this goal is
currently under review pending legislative and
regulatory changes and will be submitted for
Board approval in 2011/12.
G-MW continues to work with other Water
Corporations on greenhouse issues through
its participation in the Greenhouse Working
Group. Benefits of this involvement include
being up to date with developments regarding
carbon trading policies and learning about the
success of failure of various greenhouse gas
reduction or abatement activities.
Corporate water consumption
Corporate water consumption at G-MW's
15 major office locations was 11,934 kL in
2010/11. With 611.7 full time equivalent
employees at major offices, this equates to
an office water consumption of 19,509 litres
per FTE (or 1.10 kL per m2 of office space).
Higher figures in previous years were due
to all water consumption being included in
the calculations (including recreational areas).
Figures reported in 2009/10 and 2010/11
reflect office-based consumption.
Native Vegetation Management
During the year G-MW developed the Victorian Water Industry's
first Native Vegetation Code of Practice to provide a framework for
improved
management of native vegetation when undertaking maintenance of its
assets. In developing the Code of Practice, G-MW consulted with the 26
councils within its boundaries and ran a public consultation
process. The Code of Practice received broad support from planning
authorities and
other stakeholders.
The implementation of this Code of Practice will allow G-MW to
effectively and efficiently maintain its large network of channels,
irrigation
structures and other utility assets across northern Victoria. It
will also allow for a consistent approach to the management of native
vegetation
removal and offsets within G-MW's boundaries.
Freedom of Information
G-MW is subject to the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 and is committed
to making documents available to the
community where possible. Requests for
access to G-MW documents under Freedom
of Information Act 1982 can be sent to:
Legal Officer -
Freedom of Information and Privacy
Goulburn-Murray Water
PO Box 165
Tatura Victoria 3616
Requests must be in writing, clearly identify
the documents sought and be accompanied
by the required application fee, currently
$24.40. The application fee may be waived in
cases of proven financial hardship. Additional
access charges may apply.
In 2010/11 G-MW received 24 new freedom
of information (FOI) requests. Requests
were received from various sections of the
community including individuals, community
groups, solicitors and organisations.
In the same period 25 requests were
completed. The outcomes were:
full access granted 9
partial access granted 11
access denied 2
no documents 1
other 2
G-MW received two applications for internal
review. The outcomes were:
original decision upheld 2
original decision varied 0
original decision overturned 0
Two applications were made to the Victorian
Civil and Administrative Tribunal to review an
FOI decision during the relevant period. Both
matters are ongoing.
No complaints were received from the
Ombudsman concerning FOI requests
handled by G-MW.
Enquiries concerning FOI can be made by
contacting the Legal Officer - Freedom of
Information and Privacy on (03) 5833 5611
or via email foi@g-mwater.com.au.
Energy and Water Ombudsman
(Victoria) Limited
G-MW is a member of the Energy and Water
Ombudsman (Victoria) Dispute Resolution
Scheme, which provides an independent
third-party conciliation process for the
resolution of complaints by customers of
electricity, gas and water service providers in
Victoria.
During the 2010/11 financial year, the
Ombudsman referred 81 matters to G-MW
Of these, four were Enquiries, 23 were
Unassisted Referrals, 36 were Assisted
Referrals, four were Stage 1 Complaints
and 14 were Stage 2 Complaints.
Case complexity contributed to one
complaint progressing to a Stage 3 status.
As at 30 June 2011, there were nine complaints
against the Corporation being investigated by
the Ombudsman's office.
The Energy and Water Ombudsman
(Victoria) may be contacted by writing to:
The Energy and Water Ombudsman (Victoria)
Reply Paid 469
Melbourne Vic 8060
Victorian Industry Participation
Policy (VIPP)
The VIPP was established in 2001 to actively
encourage greater local industry participation
in major Victorian Government procurement
contracts, projects and infrastructure.
The VIPP applies when the Victorian
Government's funding or provision of a
grant exceeds $3 million in Metropolitan
Melbourne and $1 million in Regional Victoria.
Contracts commenced during 2010/11
to which the VIPP applied:
One contract totalling $7,488,509.
This contract was in Regional Victoria.
18 existing jobs retained, 100% Local
Content Committed.
Contracts completed during 2010/11
to which the VIPP applied:
Two Contracts totalling $2,745,150.
This contract was in Regional Victoria.
31 existing jobs retained, 100% Local
Content Committed.
Audit Reviews of G-MW during
2010/11
G-MW is subjected to regular audits from a
variety of external auditors. Some are initiated
as a result of Board internal audit programs
and some are initiated externally and carried
out without charge to G-MW. The areas of
water trading and administration, finance,
OHS and work programs are the subject
of regular audits. Some of the auditors and
audits performed during 2010/11 are:
Cardno for DSE
- Phase 3 water savings accrued during
2010/11 as a result of CG1-4 and
Shepparton modernisation projects (and
support to NVIRP Early Works).
Victorian Auditor General's Office (VAGO)
- Groundwater Management - Sustainable
Management of Victoria's Groundwater
Resources, tabled in Parliament October
2010.
- Performance Audit - Securing ICT
Management and Control Systems for
Water and Trains - tabled in Parliament
October 2010.
- Water Entities - Interim Results of the
2009/10 Audits - tabled in Parliament
October 2010.
- Auditor General's report on the Annual
Financial Report of the State of Victoria,
2009/10 - tabled in Parliament October
2010.
SAI Global
- Safety Map Initial Level Certification
- AS4801 - Occupational Health and Safety Management System
AFS and Associates
- Water exchange and trading
- Financial transactions
- Business unit reviews
- Audit recommendation actions
and responses
Maxwell Brown and Mountjoy
- Water Ballot and Exchanges
Lloyds Register Quality Assurance (LRQA)
- Environmental Management System
Jardine, Lloyd & Thomas
- Liability and Property Risk Management
PriceWaterhouse Coopers
FM Global
Burkett Consulting Services
- Terrorism Risk Management Plan
Building Act
G-MW observes statutory requirements
set down by the Building Act 1993 and the
accompanying Building Regulations 2006.
Information Available
Information relevant to Financial Reporting
Directive 22B of the Financial Management
Act 1994 is held at the G-MW offices and is
available on request subject to the Freedom
of Information Act.
Whistleblowers Protection Act
The Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001
(the Act) is designed to protect people
disclosing information about serious
wrongdoing in the Victorian Public Sector and
to provide a framework for the investigation
of these matters. The protection disclosure
coordinator for the Department of
Sustainability and Environment (DSE) acts as
the Corporation's agent to receive disclosures
under the Act, and applies DSE procedures
in managing disclosures. No disclosures were
received in 2010/11.
Disclosures of improper conduct by the
Corporation or its employees may be made to:
The Protected Disclosure Coordinator
Department of Sustainability and Environment
PO Box 500
East Melbourne Vic 3002
Consultancies
Consultants were engaged by the
Corporation during 2010/11 and they
provided expert analysis and advice to
facilitate decision making.
The following consultants were engaged at
a total contract cost of $100,00 or more:
Consultant: GHD Pty Ltd
Projects included Pricing and Tariff review
and Hattah Lakes Project
Total: $581,423
Consultant: Price Waterhouse Coopers
Borrowings and Capital Projects Review and
Integrated Budget tool model development
Total: $563,782
Consultant: SKM
Specialised engineering projects
Total: $321,619
Consultant: URS Australia
Specialised engineering projects
Total: $194,524
Consultant: MB+M Business Solutions
Specific reconciliation projects
Total: $151,121
There were thirty two consultants engaged
at a contract cost of less than $100,000 and these were paid $633,745.
Value of Community Service
Obligations
During 2010/11 G-MW granted $165,627.24
in pension concessions. In 2009/10 pension
concessions granted were $105,540.10.
National Competition Policy
G-MW aims to comply with Victorian
Government policies and timeframes for
National Competition Policy, including
competitive neutrality. Corporatisation
of Watermove as a stand alone business
entity was formalised in November 2009
Watermove Pty Ltd
Watermove Pty Ltd is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Goulburn-Murray Water and
operates as an independent broker of water
entitlements. Governance is provided to
Watermove by a board comprising three
independent Directors, the Managing Director
and one Director appointed by G-MW.
The business operates from a shop front
location in the heart of Tatura.
Watermove:
- Provides products and services to
water traders including a weekly pooled
exchange for the trade of allocation
entitlements.
- Has released to market an online
traderoom that provides opportunities
for traders to match their temporary
and permanent entitlement requirements
in a live environment.
- Processes all Victorian allocation trades
through an electronic interface with the
Victorian Water Register.
- Provides brokerage services for the
federal government environmental
buy back of water entitlements.
- Allows other water brokers access to an
online trading platform in which they can
conduct trades on behalf of their clients.