Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW) employee Andrew Cooper last night won the 2010 Young Victorian Water Industry Operator of the Year Award presented by the Institution of Water Administration. Andrew was recognised for his role in delivering more than 175,000 ML of water across the Central Goulburn Irrigation Area during extremely difficult seasonal conditions.
G-MW Managing Director David Stewart said the Award recognised the calibre of staff involved in the delivery of rural water services across Northern Victoria.
"It's a very exciting time to be in the rural water industry with unprecedented Victorian Government investment and the opportunity to secure the future for irrigated agriculture across our region," said Mr Stewart.
"Our customers' businesses are changing rapidly and we need to ensure G-MW is able and ready to service increasingly diverse customer needs into the future. A modernised irrigation business is a key step and Andrew is directly involved in this exciting change," said Mr Stewart.
Andrew lives in Kyabram and joined G-MW through its traineeship program in 2009 after completing his cabinet maker apprenticeship.
"We congratulate Andrew and look forward to his ongoing contribution to G-MW becoming Australia's leading rural water services provider," Mr Stewart said.
Mr Stewart said Andrew's achievements included improving the maintenance program for G-MW's automated regulators and outlets and assisting the NVIRP Stage 1 program across the Central Goulburn Area where over 30 km of plastic lining was installed. Andrew also helped deliver the 2009 capital works program which included the construction of new road bridges and occupational crossings and assisting NVIRP to complete its automated gate program.
"Andrew understands that as a field operator his role impacts on the environment around him, from his vehicle use to water lost via an outfall into a drainage channel that may carry a nutrient load to the streams at the end of the drainage system," Mr Stewart said.
Photos are available.
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