Hervey Bay City Council is believed to have created a Queensland first when it corporatised its water and wastewater management unit, Wide Bay Water, in January this year. It did so with a clear focus on marketing the award winning organisation’s proven expertise to other authorities. Wide Bay Water Corporation (WBWC) is currently enjoying international demand for its consulting, keynote speaking and technical services.
Chief Executive Officer Tim Waldron, who recently returned from a visit to one of Hervey Bay’s sister city’s Leshan in China, announced Wide Bay Water Corporation has been invited to assess and consider a $3 million dollar water treatment and water technology project for the city.
“Leshan is a developing city of 3.5 million people but you cannot drink the water. So we will be looking to provide positive solutions, either by directly tendering for the projects or through consultancy services,” Tim Waldron said.
In May this year, Wide Bay Water Corporation will conduct leakage detection and network verification work in Phet Buri, Thailand, through a program of active leak detection. This project will help the water authority to identify areas of greatest water loss for prioritising repairs, and will also verify the accuracy of local water distribution system mapping.
Tim Waldron has also undertaken consultancy work on leak detection, and conducted leak detection workshops in Fiji for participants from 14 South Pacific countries. He has been invited to deliver presentations to delegates in South Africa later this year.
Wide Bay Water Corporation has become an established industry leader in specialised fields, such as effluent reuse, water demand management, stormwater harvesting and a NATA accredited laboratory. The organisation’s expertise in Total Demand Management was recognised last year with the Australian Water Association Merit Award and the Prime Minister’s Environment Award for Sustainable Communities. Other awards received include two Banksia Awards, the National Award for Innovation in Local Government and a Queensland State WaterWise award.
“Wide Bay Water Corporation had worked hard to develop a reputation for maintaining the highest standards in water quality, reliability, customer service, environmental care and innovation,” Tim Waldron said. “We are already in considerable demand for consulting services to other Local Government and private sector organisations, and are enjoying the growing opportunities to take Wide Bay Water Corporation to the world from our home base in beautiful Hervey Bay.”
