AWA Victoria awards recognise excellence

South East Water received two awards at the Australian Water Association (AWA) Victorian Excellence Awards 2009 on 4 December 2009.

The Inaugural Water Professional of the Year award went to Technical Projects Manager Dr Terry Anderson, who has spent half of his illustrious career at South East Water. The award honours individuals who have shown a sustained passion and commitment to the industry and demonstrated outstanding leadership and influence.

Dr Anderson has made an extraordinary contribution to the water industry in Melbourne, Victoria and Australia over his 27-year career and is recognised as an expert in sewage treatment, biosolids management, odour management, water recycling and trade waste and has made significant contributions to the water industry in all of these areas.

Dr Anderson was also instrumental in developing trade waste standards for Melbourne and was influential at a national level, making significant contributions to programs such as the National Biosolids Research Program.

He said: “Receiving an award from your peers is wonderful and is something I will treasure. It prompts me to reflect on the issues the industry faces. Top amongst these is clearly water conservation.

“I’m comforted that the industry has fully embraced conservation and am particularly pleased to be part of South East Water’s significant contribution towards educating businesses and people about water use, via innovative water-efficiency programs like the Water Management Plan (waterMAP) and the Support 155 Business Program.”

The awards also recognised the achievements of the Flinders Sewerage Project, which received the Infrastructure Project Innovation Commendation.

The Flinders Sewerage Project has delivered a state-of-the-art pressure sewerage system for the towns of Flinders and Shoreham. The project has had a high success rate, with the majority of customers in the townships choosing to voluntarily connect early to the scheme.

Capital Works Manager Charlie Littlefair said: “The project has provided a genuine win/win situation. We have resolved the health and environmental issues of the area with this innovative pressure sewer system - which we can fully control and operate remotely - and we have installed it with minimal disruption.”

Project Manager Steven French accepted the AWA award on behalf of the project, which was a collaboration between South East Water, ‘us’ (Utility Services program alliance), MWH and NOV Mono Pumps. This award follows the project recently receiving an Engineering Innovation award from Engineers Australia.

South East Water Managing Director Shaun Cox said: “Terry Anderson was ahead of his time in the decisions that he made regarding wastewater treatment in his early career and it is fitting that he is recognised now for the sustained contribution that he has made. And, the Flinders Sewerage Project, which was supported by strong community feedback as the most sustainable solution, is already making a big difference to Mornington Peninsula residents.”

For more information on water-saving initiatives, visit www.southeastwater.com.au.