G-MW has announced a new corporate structure to ensure it is best placed to deliver improved and expanded customer services, including the many valuable service opportunities that will result from system modernisation and the Northern Region Sustainable Water Strategy (NRSWS).
G-MW Managing Director David Stewart said the new structure will streamline business units, improve customer service, and enhance G-MW's ability to response to its dynamic and evolving operating environment.
"Our region has seen more than a decade of drought, our irrigation network is undergoing a ‘once in a lifetime' transformation, the NRSWS is developing a 50 year blue print for water management across northern Victoria and our customers and communities have changing expectations and needs. It's vital our business is positioned to meet these challenges and deliver the best possible outcomes for customers, their communities and our local environment," said Mr Stewart.
Mr Stewart also pointed out that many of the factors that will define how northern Victoria owns, shares and uses water over coming decades are driven by organisations other than G-MW, for example the Water Register oversees water ownership arrangements, the Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project (NVIRP) is delivering system modernisation and reconfiguration programs and a range of advisory panels and committees have been established to drive initiatives such as water buybacks and Northern Region Sustainable Water Strategy (NRSWS).
"Within this evolving environment G-MW's core responsibility is to harvest, store, allocate and deliver water to customers as efficiently as possible. Our new corporate structure reflects this responsibility and our commitment to delivering the right mix of products and services that our customers need now and into the future," said Mr Stewart.
Under the new structure all G-MW's customer activities are now aligned in one Operations Division under the experienced leadership of Ian Moorhouse. Mr Moorhouse has 28 years experience in irrigation management and is currently Executive Manager of G-MW's Water Delivery Services group.
"This will improve and streamline our current service arrangements, and importantly it paves the way for us to ensure the benefits from NVIRP and other initiatives especially the NRSWS are captured and reflected in G-MW's operations and especially in our services to customers," said Mr Stewart.
Mr Stewart said the new structure positioned G-MW to meet the challenges of drought and climate change but was not an immediate reaction to the current drought.
"We have been adjusting our business over the seasons to run lean operations and still meet customer needs - for example we have redeployed staff and not filled vacant positions in our delivery teams and staff levels are currently 32% below normal operations. However, I assure everyone that we have no plans to reduce positions at or relocate any of our 18 local offices," said Mr Stewart.
Mr Stewart said modernisation and the automation of its channel network would impact on future operating arrangements but these changes would be addressed at the time.
G-MW's Business Modernisation Division, lead by Darren Nabbs, will work with industry and Government stakeholders to define modernisation programs that ensure G-MW's systems, services and operations align with the future needs of the region. Darren Nabbs, formerly manager of G-MW's FutureFlow Alliance has been promoted to the position.
The Technical Services Division, led by Shane McGrath, will develop and maintain G-MW's $3.7 billion asset base. Shane brings 30 years experience in the management, construction and upgrading of major water supply works both in Australia and overseas, with particular expertise in dams.
"This team brings together all the activities connected with our assets - not just operating the structures but the activities associated with our bulk water customers, Catchments Management Authorities, hydropower companies, the more than 1,100 clubs, camps, jetties, leases and public recreation facilities on and around our storages, as well as our programs to manage and protect the quality of our water resources and local environment," said Mr Stewart.
The Corporate Services Division, under the leadership of Peter Guy will drive business operations, support systems and governance activities
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