Past Hobart Water headline news

2007 News

Hobart Water goes into regional partnership

Work on a far-reaching water and wastewater plan to address the future social, economic and environmental needs of all of southern Tasmania's communities commenced early in 2007, after Hobart Water partnered with the Southern Tasmanian Councils Association (STCA), which comprises the 12 southern councils.

The decision to undertake the project followed Hobart Water's release of its 30 year Infrastructure Plan for greater Hobart in late 2006. The new plan will use the same methodology - based on world-wide best practice - to develop a blueprint for developing water and wastewater infrastructure for all municipal areas in the south of the state.

30 year Infrastructure launched - April

Hobart Water recently completed a 30 year water infrastructure plan, which provides a blueprint for planning, maintaining and upgrading the whole region's water infrastructure over the next three decades.

Hobart Water will be releasing the results of this study in the coming months.

New partnership to boost kidney disease water - March 2007

A new partnership between Kidney Health Australia and Hobart Water to highlight the benefits of drinking water was kicked off on World Water Day – Thursday 22 March.

With around 156,000 Tasmanians at increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease, the partnership will see each organisation spreading the message about the need for good dietary and exercise practices and in particular, the importance of drinking water.

To learn more about the partnership, click here.

Derwent River Drinking Water Catchment Management Plan on its way - February 2007

Hobart Water has completed the draft Derwent River Drinking Water Management Plan. The plan looks at the risks to water quality in the Derwent River and used a consultative committee which was made up local stakeholders to ensure the plan covered a broad range of risk areas.

A public comment was held and Hobart Water is now incorporating comments into the draft plan. The Plan will be signed off by Hobart Water’s Board of Management over the coming months and will be launched to the public. Implementation of the plan will also begin soon after the launch.

To learn more about Hobart Water’s catchment management strategy, click here.

Hobart Water sign Memorandum of Understandings - January 2007

Since the second half of 2006, Hobart Water has signed three Memorandum of Understandings with external councils to assist in water management. The agreements with Tasman, Glamorgan Spring Bay and Central Highlands Council will see Hobart Water assist the councils in long-term water planning and management.

Hobart Water’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Christine Mucha, said that Hobart Water is keen to help some of southern Tasmania’s smaller communities overcome their water issues.

To learn more about Hobart Water’s services, click here. 

New faces on the Board of Management - January 2007

Business Consultant, Elizabeth Thomas, and Engineer, Graham O’Byrne, joined Hobart Water as Board members on 1 January 2007. 

To learn more about Hobart Water’s Board of Management, click here. 

Winner of the 7th Steve Balcombe Scholarship awarded - January 2007

A scholarship designed to attract Tasmania’s brightest students to work in the water sector has made a dream come true for Deloraine’s Hannah Atkins.

Eighteen-year-old Hannah is the seventh young Tasmanian to win the opportunity to work in the state’s water sector while undertaking engineering studies at the University of Tasmania.

Hannah Atkins won the 2007 Steve Balcombe Hobart Water scholarship which gives her financial assistance for her studies and the chance to work on engineering projects which address greater Hobart’s water systems.

She follows six other young Tasmanians who have joined Hobart Water’s workforce.

To find out more about Hobart Water’s scholarship program, click here.

2006 News

Hobart Water Awards - December 2006

In December 2006, Hobart Water launched its inaugural Staff Awards. In the inaugural year, the executive team at Hobart Water nominated staff members who were seen to go beyond the call of duty in the particular category.

The categories and winners included:

• Workplace Safe winner: Stuart Macpherson,
• Beyond the Call winner: Ross Luttrell,
• Striving for Excellence winner: Raquel Esteban,
• Pride of Work winner: Phoebe Swift & Paul Andrews,
• Overall Category: Leadership winner: Peter Barwick

To learn more about the Hobart Water staff awards, click here.

Awards recognise high achievers - June 2006

Throughout 2006 several Hobart Water staff members were recognised for their high level of expertise through a number of external awards.

Hobart Water has garnered two awards in recent months. HR Manager Lynn Hallam was announced Tasmania’s inaugural HR Practitioner of the Year by the Australian Human Resources Institute of Australia (AHRI).

Peter Barwick, Coordinator Derwent Valley Team, was awarded the Rotary Club of Hobart’s Pride of Workmanship Award. The awards were established to reward the efforts and contributions of employees who consistently achieve a high standard of work performance and display personal qualities of a consistently high standard.

Chief Executive Officer, Dr Christine Mucha, was awarded the Business Leader of the Year at the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s inaugural Business Leader Awards.

Hobart Water hands historic legacy to Kingborough community - August 2006

The historic Margate Pump Station on the banks of the North West Bay River was handed over to Kingborough Council by Hobart Water.

Around thirty people, including past employees, their families, local historians and other members of the community, attended the event to celebrate as Hobart Water’s CEO, Dr Christine Mucha, handed the pump station to Kingborough Mayor, Graham Bury and Deputy Mayor, David Grace.

The pump station and nearby weir were built in 1948 and were once the lifeblood of Margate, Electrona and Snug. The station was constructed from hand-poured concrete transported to the site by horse. The original pumps are still in place inside the station.
To learn more about the pump station, visit www.kingborough.tas.gov.au.