Local irrigator and long term Boort resident Neil Beattie will join G-MW Chairman Stephen Mills and Managing Director David Stewart on a panel to interview the growing list of local community representatives who have applied to be a part of the interim Pyramid-Boort Customer Reference Group.
Shane McGrath, acting Managing Director, reiterated that the Board of G-MW intends the interim Group to act in place of the suspended Water Services Committee until at least July 2010.
"Given the unprecedented circumstances we have adjusted our normal Customer Committee appointment processes to include a highly respected member from the local Pyramid-Boort community on the selection panel," said Mr McGrath.
The panel will commence interviews with candidates in the near future, and forward a list of recommended nominees to the Board of G-MW who will make the decision on appointments to the Group. In its open letter to the recent Community Meeting at Pyramid Hill, G-MW advised that all members of the existing committee could seek to continue their participation in the interim Community Reference Group and a future Water Services Committee.
A key aspect of the criteria for appointment to the Customer Reference Group and any future Water Services Committee will be the candidate's ability to contribute to the effective operations of the committee and a commitment to respect the agreed governance processes.
Further information about the interim Customer Reference Group and application forms are available from http://www.g-mwater.com.au/customer-services/pb.html#5 or follow the link on the G-MW home page. Applications close 5pm Friday 29 January 2010. All applications will remain confidential.
All of G-MW's customer committees are appointed by the Board of G-MW. Committee members are appointed for a three year term with only a portion of the committee places appointed in any one year. Elections may be a part of this process but are not a routine feature of a pre-selection procedure. Elections only take place when there are more candidates than places available on a particular committee in any year. Candidates successful as part of an election process are still subject to approval and appointment by the Board of G-MW.
Cr Beattie is available for media interviews.
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Media Contact: Linda Nieuwenhuizen
Position: Stakeholder Relations Manager
Telephone: 03 5833 5776 or 0412 183 792
Profile: Councillor NEIL BEATTIE
Cr Beattie lives at Catumnal, west of Boort running a dry land and irrigation farm along with a trucking operation. Neil is married to Dot and has three children who are pursuing careers in Melbourne. Neil has farmed in the Boort District for forty years and now spends a lot of time with community organisations.
Cr Neil Beattie was elected in 2005 to the Loddon Shire Council representing the Boort Ward and has been re-elected for the next four years.
Cr Beattie is the Chairman of Lake Boort Management Committee, an active member of the Boort Football Club and Life Member of the North Central League, Chair of the Boort Aerodrome Committee.
Councillor Beattie is a member of the Boort Community Bendigo Bank Committee along with his role as Council representatives on a range of committees relevant to water management issues in the local community including the Serpentine to Boort Floodplain Steering Committee, the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline Project, East Loddon Pipeline Project Working Group, and the Weed Management Strategy Steering Committee.