Solutions in Water

Issue No. 47 - June/ july

2009 Water Industry Alliance award winners

ALLIANCING AWARD – recognises an organisation that has contributed to collaboration.

Percat Water

By establishing a global financial pipeline, innovative South Australian water licence broker Percat Water has assisted growers across Australia manage the drought and overseas investors participate in a global market.

Formed in 2002, Percat is a growing Adelaide-based company involved in trading and investing in water licences, and the introduction of new products into the

water market.

“The Federal Government has been buying water for the environment while irrigators have struggled to raise capital to stay on the land,” Bob O’Brien, Managing Director of Percat Water said.

“Percat Water has stepped into the gap to solve a market need and grown to become the leader in our field.

“Percat has linked investors overseas with water brokers across the River Murray Darling Basin to buy water licences. Growers have been able to retire debt which has allowed them to concentrate on their core business of growing food and produce.

“We have recently developed a sale and lease back product for holders of water licences to allow irrigators to concentrate on what they do best - growing food for Australians and for export while freeing up cash.”

MARKET STAR AWARD – recognises an organisation that is successfully and sustainably growing at a rapid rate in response to market demand.

Aquamate

Aquamate, a 12-year-old firm specialising in large water storage tanks, had a new lease of life when entrepreneur Danny Di Iorio bought it in 2001. Danny has taken the firm from one employee with a turnover of $400,000 in 2001 to a $5 million company employing 12 full time staff and 10 contract workers in 2007.

Danny expects to employ to 20 staff and 10 contract workers by 2010 to keep up with the demand, particularly from rural Australia, for Aquamate’s large-volume (from 45,000 litres up to 350,0...