UNITYWATER
UNITYWAT
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nitywater is a statutory authority, formed under the South-East Queensland Water (Distribution and Retail Restructuring) Act 2009. Governed by an independent Board, it has a Participation Agreement with the Moreton Bay Regional Council, Sunshine Coast Council and the Noosa Council. It services these local authority areas on behalf of their citizens to provide essential water and sewerage services.
ALWAYS OPEN In many countries across the world, safe tap water is non-existent, or simply a luxury that isn’t accessible. Unitywater is responsible for managing $3.3 billion of water and sewerage assets, whilst delivering safe and reliable water and sewerage services to more than 755,000 people across the regions it serves. Whilst Unitywater recognises its overall objective is to deliver water and sewerage services to its dedicated areas, stating its purpose is to keep its communities healthy. However, it also prides itself on striving to enhance customer value which is reflected in its vision to be a sustainable, industryleading community and customer-orientated water and allied services business. One example of this is encouraging customers to swap to paperless billing. In its 2016 – 2017 annual report, Unitywater confirmed that its customers continued to sign up to electronic billing, saving over 380,000 paper bills from being posted over the course of that one year.
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, Unitywater’s priority is providing its customers with a high-quality, safe and reliable water and sewerage service that is economically and environmentally sustainable. The company: • maintains and supplies drinking-quality water to homes, businesses and public areas • collects, treats and disposes of sewage • builds, manages, operates and maintains its sewerage and water infrastructure • manages trade waste from its business and industrial customers • provides around-the-clock response to
sewerage and water emergencies • manages customer and stakeholder enquiries • issues and manages customer accounts • provides responsive 24/7 incident, media and public information to ensure that its communities are prepared, informed and supported as needed • provides returns to its participating councils. WATERWAYS Unitywater is responsible for ensuring that its water supplies are of the highest quality and meet the requirements of
the Public Health Regulation 2005, the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011 and its ISO 22000 certification. Seqwater, the State Government bulk water supply authority, supplies water from the dams, weirs and water treatment plants that it manages. Unitywater distributes this treated water via an extensive network of reservoirs, pumps and pipes. Regular monitoring and testing programs are in place to constantly check the quality of drinking water through the entire supply chain – from catchment to consumer. Apart from providing treated bulk
water to Unitywater, Seqwater also manages the SEQ Water Grid. This 600-kilometre reverse-flow network enables Seqwater to move drinking water to where it is needed most across South-east Queensland. Unitywater customers are supplied with water from a number of different dams and waterways across the region. No matter the water source, all tap water is treated to strict standards and regulations. COMMUNITY CARE Unitywater supports its purpose of keeping communities healthy by leading
Dormway Dormway is proud to be part of Unitywater’s team, delivering infrastructure projects as a trusted partner on their Panel of Providers since 2010. Our solid project management capabilities and long history of safely delivering quality projects ahead of schedule and within budget has strengthened our reputation over the past 35 years as a delivery partner of choice to provide real world, successful solutions. Together with the Unitywater team, we have helped to advance the quality of life in local communities and we look forward to many more years of successfully delivering projects and providing quality services together.
many initiatives in the community. With plastic pollution continuing to become a huge danger to our oceans and marine life, one example of its community care work is its back to tap campaign. Unitywater’s Back to Tap campaign encourages its communities to avoid adding to plastic pollution in the marine environment, simply by avoiding singleuse plastic bottles and refilling reusable water bottles through the following partnerships and events: • Back to Tap teamed up with international big wave surfer Mark Visser during National Water Week to promote our message of drinking tap water. • It sponsored five permanent water refill stations at Australia Zoo, providing free chilled tap water to visitors. By 30 June, patrons had filled up around 42,000 water bottles at the zoo. • It sponsored stainless steel water bottles to reduce plastic water bottle waste at the Noosa Festival of Surfing and the World Environment Day Festival. • Through its community sponsorship program, it facilitated a youth education program, Art Action 4 Oceans, in which up to 1000 primary students participated in a plastic waste workshop and a beach clean-up program. • It sponsored 121 community events and festivals and provided free chilled water refills with its Back to Tap van. • It provided 21,356 community members with reusable water bottles. FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE Across the region in 2016-17, Unitywater invested $131.8 million
in water and sewerage assets. After excluding developer contributions (comprising gifted assets and cash) of $130.2 million from profit after tax, Unitywater made a profit of $5.3 million. This compares to a loss of $7.4 million in 2015-16 after excluding developer contributions.
Controlling the taps George Theo, Chief Executive Officer George was appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer in May 2012. Prior to that he was Unitywater’s Chief Operating Officer. George has more than 30 years’ experience and a wealth of knowledge of the water industry, the majority of which has been operating at executive level of management. George has held roles with global consulting company GHD and water utilities Brisbane Water in Queensland and City West Water in Victoria. George has a proven track record in driving sustainable organisational change by challenging the status quo and building successful leadership teams. George has a Master’s in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) degree and an Associated Diploma in (Municipal Engineering). George is also a member of the Institute of Engineers Australia and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Oliver Moy Publisher For enquiries email okm@aubusinesscoverage.com