Annual Report 2012/13 at a Glance East Gippsland Water’S Region
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Annual Report 2012/13 At a Glance East Gippsland Water’s Region East Gippsland Water serves an area of 21,000 square kilometres The corporation has nine separate water supply systems that serve in the east of Victoria, which boasts some of Australia’s most the communities of Bairnsdale, Bemm River, Bruthen, Buchan, diverse and spectacular scenery and a population of around Cann River, Dinner Plain, Eagle Point, Johnsonville, Lakes Entrance, 45,000 people. Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust, Lake Tyers Beach, Lindenow, Lindenow South, Mallacoota, Marlo, Metung, Newlands Arm, The region’s world renowned beaches, lakes, high country and Newmerella, Nicholson, Nowa Nowa, Omeo, Orbost, Paynesville, national parks are a natural draw-card for those seeking a lifestyle Raymond Island, Sarsfield, Swan Reach and Swifts Creek. change, as well as for the many tourists that swell the region’s population numbers over the busy holiday periods. Eleven individual wastewater systems serve Bairnsdale, Bemm River, Bruthen, Cann River, Dinner Plain, Eagle Point, Johnsonville, East Gippsland Water serves more than 36,400 people. Its service Lakes Entrance, Lake Tyers Beach, Lindenow, Mallacoota, Marlo, area extends east from Lindenow, through to the region’s capital Metung, Newlands Arm, Nicholson, Omeo, Orbost, Paynesville, Bairnsdale, the holiday centres of Paynesville and Lakes Entrance, Raymond Island and Swan Reach. and on to the wilderness coast and Mallacoota near the New South Wales border. It also serves as far north as Dinner Plain in Water services are provided to some 25,100 account holders the High Country of the Victorian Alps. (assessments) with wastewater services also provided to around 21,400 account holders. Water and Sewerage Services Water Services Other Townships Genoa River Buchan River Snowy River Mt Hotham Cann River Brodribb River Genoa Dinner Plain Bemm River Omeo Mallacoota Betka River Swifts Creek Buchan Rocky River Cann River Tambo River Ensay Dargo Princes Hwy Nicholson River Orbost Bemm River Newmerella Nowa Nowa Mitchell River Bruthen Marlo Johnsonville Swan Nicholson Reach Lake Tyers Bairnsdale Lindenow Lakes Entrance Metung Walpa Eagle Point Lindenow South Paynesville Newlands Arm Melbourne Fact File (as at 30 June 2013) Water Wastewater Serviced properties Serviced properties - domestic assessments 22,030 - domestic assessments 19,162 - non domestic assessments 3,105 - non domestic assessments 2,258 Volume of water consumed (ML/y) 4,812 Volume of wastewater collected (ML/y) 2,763 Length of water mains (km) 923.5 Length of sewer mains (km) 659.3 Water treatment plants 9 Wastewater treatment plants 11 Water disinfection plants 11 Water recycled (%) 99 Separate water supply systems 9 Separate wastewater systems 11 Contents Page Our Vision At a Glance Inside front cover For East Gippsland Water to be recognised as a premier and trusted water corporation. Report from the Chairperson and Managing Director 2 Our Mission We provide quality and sustainable water Corporate Governance 4 and wastewater services in a responsive, cost effective, safe and environmentally Environmental Sustainability 7 sensitive manner. Asset Management 14 Our Objectives People and Culture 15 • To meet the requirements of customers, government and stakeholders Community Engagement 19 Water and Sewerage Services • To innovate and achieve sustainability in all aspects of our business Water Services Social Sustainability 21 Other Townships • To improve the delivery of our services Financial Summary 22 Genoa River • To develop and maximise the potential of Buchan River our people Snowy River Other Information 23 Mt Hotham Cann River Brodribb River Genoa Dinner Plain Bemm River About this Report Performance Report 26 Omeo Mallacoota Betka River This Annual Report details East Gippsland Swifts Creek Buchan Water’s performance and achievements in Independent Auditor’s Report 30 Rocky River Cann River Tambo River Ensay all areas of its operations during 2012/13. It Dargo has been prepared in accordance with the Financial Report 32 Financial Reporting Direction FRD 30A - Princes Hwy Nicholson River Orbost Bemm River Standard requirements for the design and print Newmerella Independent Auditor’s Report 64 Nowa Nowa of annual reports. This defines the design Mitchell River Bruthen Marlo and print specifications of annual reports to Johnsonville Swan ensure consistency, cost minimisation and low Disclosure Index 66 Nicholson Reach Lake Tyers Bairnsdale environmental impact. Lindenow Lakes Entrance Metung Walpa Eagle Point Further information and previous annual reports Glossary Inside back cover Lindenow South Paynesville Newlands Arm are available at www.egwater.vic.gov.au. Melbourne The Corporation East Gippsland Region Water Corporation was initially established as East Gippsland Region Water Authority on 1 January 1995, by Ministerial Order and under powers conferred by the Water Act 1989. It trades as East Gippsland Water. The responsible Minister during the 2012/13 reporting period was The Hon. Peter Walsh MLA, Minister for Water. In accordance with the Water Act 1989, East Gippsland Water delivers the full range of retail water services, including water harvesting, storage and drinking water supply. It also provides wastewater collection and treatment services, recycled water for rural and recreational uses, as well as trade waste services to industrial and commercial customers. ANNUAL REPORT - EAST GIPPSLAND WATER 2012/13 1 install a shade cloth cover over the corporation’s 45ML treated water storage at Orbost, to boost long-term water security for the local community and maintain water quality. The project, worth around $640,000, is due for completion early in 2013/14 and has been supported by more than $270,000 from the Victorian Government’s Small Towns Water Quality Fund. In addition, work got underway on-site to replace a key section of water supply pipeline into Bairnsdale. The project, due for completion in 2013/14, involves replacing 350 metres of ageing steel water main lying close to the Lind Bridge at WyYung, including a 70 metre section running across the bed of the Report from the Mitchell River. A tunnel up to 1.5 metres in diameter will be drilled under the river bed to take the replacement pipe. Chairperson and This project is a high priority to ensure that a reliable drinking water supply into Bairnsdale is maintained for the long-term Managing Director future. The pipeline section targeted has suffered under the impact of some major flood events. Its replacement will be East Gippsland Water continued to be very proactive in more resilient and constructed from high density polyethylene. addressing the needs of the local community and Victorian Government in the 2012/13 financial year, recording some notable achievements. The Environment The much-needed sewerage scheme completed at Bemm Financial Position River included construction of reticulation sewers, pump stations and a wastewater treatment plant. This will benefit The corporation recorded a surplus before tax of $3.979 the environment of the local waterways and protect public million for 2012/13, which was above budget expectations of health by removing risks associated with septic tank effluent. $2.6 million. This supports the financial sustainability of East Gippsland Water, as the surplus will assist with investments in The scheme utilises an innovative subsurface irrigation system new and replacement works, minimising the need for future for the recycled water generated, which is a first for the borrowings. corporation. The underlying improvement in profit was primarily due to The reporting period saw the completion of a $3 million above average water consumption by customers during the upgrade to the sewerage system at Lake Tyers Aboriginal relatively hot and dry summer. The amount of water delivered Trust. This addresses the community’s present and future to customers totalled 4,812ML, compared with 4,260ML the sewerage requirements. previous year. East Gippsland Water was commissioned and funded by We also experienced higher than budgeted wastewater the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services revenue, largely due to the Bemm River Sewerage Scheme and Indigenous Affairs to coordinate the project, which also being completed by June 2013 and the related customer provided employment for local community members. contributions to the scheme. Work progressed on upgrading the Metung Wastewater Treatment Plant to cater for population growth from the Water Consumption and Restrictions Kings Cove development and new customers coming online For the sixth year running we ensured no water restrictions in at Tambo Bluff. This initiative includes construction of a 50ML our region. winter storage dam and expansion of the irrigation system, The increase in water consumption experienced was a with completion of stage one expected early in 2013/14. situation reflected by other water corporations across Further expansion of the irrigation system is planned over the Victoria. Factors helping to drive up consumption levels next ten years. included: In addition we maintained our position as a leader in the • Victoria’s and East Gippsland’s hottest, driest summer on Victorian water industry for water recycling, with a reuse level record of 99 percent achieved from our wastewater treatment plants. • an increase of more than six percent in tourist numbers We also continue to collaborate actively with our catchment for East Gippsland over summer, compared to the partners on environmental