Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) has announced it will create seven new customer committees to increase engagement with customers across northern Victoria.
The new customer committees will align to GMW’s services and replace Water Service Committees.
GMW Managing Director Charmaine Quick said the new engagement model was designed to attract busy customers who wanted to make an impact on rural water management and support GMW’s vision: Water for a thriving northern Victoria.
“The water service committees have provided an invaluable connection to our customers over many years,” she said.
“However, in recent years, it has been harder to attract and keep committee members.
“There have been significant changes to our irrigation network, our customer demographics and the services we provide.
“It is important GMW adapts how it engages with its customers to reflect these changes.”
Since late 2023, GMW has been in discussions with water service committee members about a new model for the future.
The new committee model, which was endorsed by GMW’s Board on Wednesday, 23 October will reflect the diverse range of GMW customers and will be designed to be collaborative, strategic, and with a manageable time commitment for members.
“I greatly appreciate the contributions of the members across our WSCs,” Ms Quick said.
“We are thankful for the time they have committed to representing our customers, and for the sound feedback they have provided.
“We look forward to working with our customers through the new committees in the future.”
The new model will see the following customer committees established:
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- GMW GMID Customer Committee – East
- GMW GMID Customer Committee – Central
- GMW GMID Customer Committee – West
- GMW Diversions Customer Committee
- GMW Pumped Districts Customer Committee
- GMW Water Districts Customer Committee
- GMW Loch Garry Customer Committee (to be established after Loch Garry Future Service Strategy is completed)
Expressions of interest for the customer committees will open in January 2025.
More information will be posted on GMW’s YourSay page in the coming weeks: https://yoursay.gmwater.com.au/
Background
- There are currently 12 Water Service Committees:
- Central Goulburn Water Services Committee
- Loddon Valley Water Services Committee
- Murray Valley Water Services Committee
- Rochester-Campaspe Water Services Committee
- Shepparton Water Services Committee
- Torrumbarry Water Services Committee
- Kiewa/Mitta Mitta/Upper Murray Regional Water Services Committee
- Ovens/King/Mid Murray Regional Water Services Committee
- Goulburn Broken Regional Water Services Committee
- Loddon and Campaspe Regional Water Services Committee
- Loddon Water District Water Services Committee
- Loch Garry Flood Protection District Water Services Committee
- Following consultation with existing Water Service Committees, the three new GMID customer committees will be selected following an expression of interest and then, if there is more interest than vacancies, there will be an election process.
- For the remaining four new committees, there will be an expression of interest and members will be selected by a panel consisting of a GMW board member, a general manager, an existing customer committee member, and an independent community member.
- All 7 committees will be formally appointed by the GMW Board.