In a groundbreaking year-long collaboration, Goulburn Valley Water and Solomon Water have significantly enhanced water access and quality across their respective regions.
The initiative was part of the Partnerships for a Resilient and Climate Smart Water Sector Program, a project funded by the Australian Water Partnership.
GVW was one of six Australian water corporations that participated.
GVW managing director Steve Capewell described the collaboration as “mutually beneficial”.
“We are very proud to have been selected to be part of the AWA program and look forward to any future opportunity to work in this space,” he said.
“While the impact of climate change on water and wastewater services remained the program’s major focus, there were opportunities for other interactions on a number of fronts.”
One such interaction occurred in March.
A four-member delegation from Solomon Water embarked on a four-day study tour, visiting Shepparton, Seymour, Broadford and Kilmore.
The visit, enriched by GVW staff members’ insights into water and wastewater treatment, also afforded the Solomon Water team a taste of Australian culture through a cricket carnival and Aussie barbecues.
Over the past year, GVW and Solomon Water have pooled their resources and expertise to address the persistent challenges in the Solomon Islands and Australia.
According to Dr Capewell, both parties deal with common concerns in their field.
“(Our organisations) share concerns around successfully addressing population growth, changing values and expectations of our communities, providing an inclusive service to a diverse customer base and the ongoing battle of addressing changing climate,” he said.
“It is a tribute to the professionalism of staff from both corporations that so much has been achieved in such a short time frame and laid the foundations of what we hope will be an ongoing relationship.”