Barwon Water

We’re thrilled to announce that our very own Riley Kirkwood and Trevor Van Arend have been recognised by CSBA, Australia’s leading customer experience experts, for their exceptional dedication to customer service. Riley, our newest consultant, was named CX Agent of the Quarter (Oct–Dec 2024), recognised for his empathy and “people-first” approach. His friendliness and ability to provide practical solutions earned him this prestigious award. Trevor received a special Certificate of Recognition for Excellence in CX Leadership. His compassionate leadership and dedication to putting customers first have made a life-changing impact, as demonstrated by heartfelt customer feedback. A special mention goes to Khan Beckett, whose invaluable support contributed significantly to this success. We’re incredibly proud of Riley and Trevor for their outstanding achievements. Their commitment to excellence reflects our ongoing dedication to delivering the best possible customer experience. Congratulations to Riley and Trevor! Your hard work and dedication inspire us all to continually improve our service to the community. #CustomerExperience #CXExcellence #BarwonWater #CSBAawards

Today marks the 10th anniversary of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and we take this opportunity to reflect on our commitment to supporting women in industries where they have been historically underrepresented. One of the standout examples of this commitment is Mariah Sampson, who was awarded the Nancy Millis Memorial Award by Water Research Australia for her groundbreaking research on Willow Restoration Ecology in the Upper Barwon Catchment. Mariah’s work contributes vital insights into managing and preserving waterway health, honouring the legacy of trailblazing scientist Nancy Millis. We’re removing barriers through inclusive hiring practices, pay equity, flexible work arrangements, and shared caring responsibility. Our partnership with organisations like gforce employment + recruitment helps encourage women into sectors like engineering and civil maintenance, while our scholarship program supports women from STEM backgrounds. We’ve made significant progress, with women now making up 50% of our board, 40% of senior executive roles, and 41.8% of our workforce. We are proud to be recognised as one of Australia’s top 100 employers for women by Work 180 and recipients of the Recalibrate-Gender Equity Awards Australia 2024. We’re committed to fostering a diverse workforce that empowers women and girls in science, today and every day. If you’re passionate about making an impact and want to join a forward-thinking, inclusive team, explore our career opportunities here: https://brnw.ch/21wQBCT #BarwonWater #IDWGS #WomenInScience #STEM #Work180

Exciting Career Opportunities at Barwon Water! We're on the lookout for passionate professionals to join our team and help shape the future of regional prosperity. If you're driven, collaborative, and eager to make a difference, we want to hear from you. Current open positions: - Project Engineer - Asset Management Information Systems Officer - GIS and Asset System Administrator - Asset Management Information System Analyst - Senior Project Manager (Barwon Asset Solutions) - Innovation and Sustainability Specialist (10 months) - Assurance Lead Join a team where your ideas and contributions truly matter. We value innovation, sustainability, and making a positive impact in the community. Don’t wait – most applications close this Sunday, 19 January 2025. Apply online and explore more opportunities by visiting 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wQ3Ni #JobOpportunity #BarwonWater #JoinOurTeam #ApplyNow #Geelong #Work180

The amount of recycled water supporting Bellarine businesses will almost double, via an innovative upgrade of the Portarlington Water Reclamation Plant. Federal Member for Corangamite Libby Coker MP and Victorian Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant joined Barwon Water Chair Jo Plummer (FAICD)(MBA) and Managing Director Shaun Cumming to break ground and mark the start of works. Construction is now underway on the upgrade, which will enable us to produce 450 million litres of higher quality, fit-for-purpose recycled water each year. This significant boost to supply will unlock new jobs and economic opportunities for local businesses including wineries, cellar doors and farm gate tourism. It will also help turn more wastewater into a valuable resource, while saving more of our precious drinking water. The project is a partnership between the Australian Government ($5.5 million through the National Water Grid Fund), the Victorian Government ($2m) and Barwon Water. More information on the Recycled Water on the Bellarine project can be found at https://lnkd.in/g5FkJMEy

Our 2024 Annual Water Outlook is now available! This report shows how our water supply systems may respond under different climate outlooks, from wet to dry conditions. While we’re in a good position right now, it’s crucial that we all continue to use water wisely. Key takeaways: 🏠 Our region is growing. Over 9,000 people moved to our region in the past 12 months, and we expect over 585,000 to call our region home by 2051. 🌧️ Rainfall is becoming less reliable. We’ve experienced our driest year at West Barwon Reservoir in 79 years. 💧 We're planning for the future to continue to deliver safe, secure and reliable drinking water to our region. You can play your part too. Small water savings steps at home can make a big difference. To read the full 2024 Annual Water Outlook, visit 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wP6lY

As we wrap up #16DaysOfActivism, let’s continue working towards a future where everyone is safe, equal, and respected. Together, we can challenge the attitudes that drive violence against women and create lasting change. We are committed to a workplace free from violence and supporting employees and customers impacted by family violence. Learn more about how we support customers here 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wPiOr #WAFV2024 #16DaysOfActivism #BarwonWater Respect Victoria

Today, on International Day of People with Disability, we celebrated the leadership and courage of our colleagues while reflecting on the importance of broadening our perspectives and inspiring change. Our conversation session allowed us to hear about the experiences of those working in the organisation and helped move us further towards a truly inclusive environment where we can all bring our whole selves to work. 2024 has seen further evolution since our Belonging @ Barwon Water Inclusion Action Plan 2022-25 was launched, highlighted by the creation of our first-ever Inclusion Council, paving the way for a workplace that fosters safety, inclusion, and progress. The theme for this year’s event, 'Amplifying Leadership for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future,' provided opportunity for our employees to display their own unique leadership in this critical space. A big thank you to our generous conversation starters, Darren, Julia, Rachael, and Oliver, for sharing their lived experiences so openly and who reminded us that the experiences of others are as unique as the individuals themselves and that we must all resist making assumptions. Explore our Belonging @ Barwon Water Inclusion Action Plan to learn more about our commitment 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wP916 #BarwonWater #InternationalDayofPeoplewithDisability #Inclusion

We're excited to announce the successful launch of the Museum of Modern (f)Art! So why a Museum of Modern (f)Art? Well, we remove 28 tonnes of rubbish from our sewer system each month, with reactive sewer blockages costing approximately $600,000 per year. We know that sewer spills cause impacts on the environment and inconvenience to our customers. So that is why we’re using new technology, data analytics, and significant investment (more than $100 million), to improve the performance of, upgrade and maintain our sewer system. We also know our customers are part of the solution to a healthy sewer system and we see the Museum of Modern (f)Art as a wonderful opportunity to build awareness, share the challenge and change behaviours about maintaining a healthy sewerage system. Technology, investment and community awareness will help us to progress to our longer-term aim of moving towards zero sewer spills – a key foundation of our Strategy 2030 and 2023 Price Submission. As part of Geelong Design Week, we collaborated with creative partners Callum Preston and the indirect Object to bring the Museum of Modern (f)Art to life. One of the highlights of the activation is Callum Preston's 'exploding' toilet installation, which illustrates the importance of only flushing the 3Ps – pee, poo and, (toilet) paper – and demonstrates how blockages occur when anything else is flushed. Additionally, the indirect Object created an eye-opening Fatberg installation, representing the accumulation of wrong items that end up in our drains, eventually blocking the system and spilling into the streets. The impressive 6.8-metre-long by 2.4-metre-wide Fatberg stands as the centrepiece of the Museum of Modern (f)Art. Our hope is that the Museum of Modern (f)Art leaves a lasting impression on visitors, encouraging them to take action at home to prevent sewer blockages and share the message with others. The experience also includes a variety of hands-on activities, from books and colouring materials to crafts and quizzes, all designed to engage and inspire curiosity – essential elements of learning, especially for young minds. We're proud of this unique initiative and look forward to seeing its positive impact on both the local community and beyond. #BarwonWater #HealthySewers #TowardZeroSpills #GeelongDesignWeek #Strategy2030

We’re thrilled to have been recognised for empowering a diverse workplace at the 2024 Recalibrate-Gender Equity Awards Australia! We were honoured to win the Medium Business (100-499 employees) category at the awards ceremony, which took place at Crown last week. Led by Business in Heels, the awards celebrate the outstanding leaders, businesses, and initiatives driving transformative change in workplace gender equity across Australia. We’re proud of our progress in fostering a safe, inclusive work environment and improving recruitment practices to remove barriers. As of June 2024, we are pleased to share that over 40% of our senior executive and non-executive positions are held by women. To learn more about the awards, visit 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wOWcV Shaun Cumming, Leoni Foley, Jo Plummer (FAICD)(MBA), Calum Urquhart #BarwonWater #GenderEquity #InclusiveWorkplace #DiversityAndInclusion

Today, we proudly joined thousands of Victorians at Birrarung Marr in Melbourne for the Walk Against Family Violence, organised by Respect Victoria. Our Managing Director, Shaun Cumming, and General Manager for Customers, Community, and Strategy, Laura Kendall, took part in this important event to send a clear message: family violence and violence against women will not be tolerated. We were inspired by Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung women sharing the strength they bring through dance and had the privilege of catching up with Lara Olsen FTSE GAICD and Maree Lang from South East Water and Greater Western Water. The walk kickstarts the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, starting Monday 25th November. This global campaign is dedicated to preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls. We're lighting up our Ryrie Street HQ forecourt in orange during the 16 Days of Activism, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to this cause. We’re also committed to providing confidential and respectful assistance to customers experiencing family violence. Learn more about how we support our customers here 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wORoX #WAFV2024 #16DaysOfActivism #BarwonWater