Solutions in Water
Issue No. 47 - June/ july
Proven water management for a changing world
Water Australia is the pipeline to a brave new world for Water Industry Alliance members, building on our successful local model to extend its reach overseas.
Launched at national conference Ozwater 09 in Melbourne in March, Water Australia has an impressive board of directors led by Dr Jim Gill, renowned former CEO of WA’s Water Corporation.
Dr Gill was an early recruit to this cause – he has been advocating it since 1998 – and as Water Australia chairman aims to “boost global export opportunities by building upon existing international successes of key
Australian companies, nurturing emerging firms, enlisting the active support of National and State Governments and coordinating inbound and outbound trade missions.”
“Water Australia’s promise is ‘proven water management for a changing world’ and our goal is to develop a $5 billion export industry for water goods and services by 2015,” Dr Gill said.
If this sounds similar to the Water Industry Alliance mission, it is. Much of the business development and advocacy expertise for Water Australia will be drawn from SA’s Water Industry Alliance, which is unique in the country, and Alliance CEO, Joe Flynn, is the Water Australia CEO.
“We are at a crossroads,” Joe said at the April Members Night, noting how it has yet to be determined how the Alliance will engage with Water Australia and how the national body will develop.
But the Alliance certainly must look to its future, as the average Water Industry Alliance annual membership fee of $293 is not enough to fund current activity. Further cost cutting will degrade the basic services to members now being offered.
As part of contractual obligations since 1996, United Water and SA Water have funded 95% of water industry development, but the obligation has been stepping down and will phase out in 2011. Joe believes it would be naïve to expect ongoing funding at that level from those organisations.
