The Board of Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW) is greatly concerned by misstatements that G-MW has ‘sacked' the current committee and did so, because G-MW ‘disagreed' with the committee's advice. Both statements are wholly inaccurate.
G-MW never has suspended a customer advisory committee because the committee was forthright and passionate in delivering its views to G-MW directors and management or because G-MW disagreed with a committee's advice or opinions.
But we feel compelled to act where the Board believes this has spilled over into unacceptable behaviours and conduct in and outside committee meetings. The Board of G-MW felt compelled to suspend the committee because of behaviours and actions of members of the Pyramid-Boort WSC, not their opinions or advice.
The Board's action is unprecedented and our record speaks for itself - over the past 15 years WSCs have vehemently and often publicly disagreed with G-MW's intended operations or policies and the Board has never reacted by suspending a WSC.
No one underestimates the challenging pace and breadth of change that is taking place within water at this time. Advising the Board on customer issues is the central role of all of our 25 customer committees and one that the Board of G-MW greatly values.
As we made clear in our open letter to the VFF's community meeting, the Board of G-MW has not dismissed or sacked the Pyramid-Boort WSC. The committee has been suspended, and G-MW would like to see a resumption as early as possible of normal WSC operations.
Over the coming weeks G-MW will continue discussions with the community, committee members and the VFF and looks forward to the resumption of a well functioning committee in 2010, and with it, a resumption of the team work and community leadership that past Pyramid-Boort WSCs have demonstrated.
Stephen Mills
Chairman
Goulburn-Murray Water
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Media Contact: Linda Nieuwenhuizen
Position: Manager Stakeholder Relations
Telephone: 03 5833 5776 or 0412 183 792