Sustainability Report 2006/07Security and emergency management
In 2007/08, water and sewerage services were declared essential services in relation to the Terrorism (Community Protection) Act 2003. As an operator of declared essential services, Melbourne Water is required to prepare a risk management plan for preventing and responding to a terrorist attack, and prepare and participate in a training exercise at least once a year to test the plan. We are analysing our systems and processes, identifying any gaps and developing a compliance action plan.
Melbourne Water completed preparations to transfer our emergency management process (PERforM) to a new process called General Emergency Management System from 1 July 2008.
This process is based on the Australasian Inter-agency Incident Management System, which is the new standard for the water industry. The change will improve our system alignment and ability to exchange information with the water industry, emergency services and government agencies.
Training workshops on the new process were conducted in April, May and June for Melbourne Water people. It will be tested in 2008/09 as part of an industry emergency exercise that supports compliance with the Act.
In October, we hosted the Water Services Infrastructure Assurance Advisory Group meeting in Melbourne. This is a valuable forum for sharing information relating to national water industry security, business resilience and emergency management in the water sector. Presentations covered pandemic planning, emergency and incident management, and security.
Upgrading information technology
A key element of optimum business performance is delivering information technology systems that improve efficiency, manage information and data, and provide robust, reliable service.
Our Information Technology Strategy includes development of an IT asset management plan, secure storage through data warehouse services, upgraded SCADA system capabilities, upgrades to the desktop operating environment, electronic document management and an expanded telecommunications microwave network.
We completed the first phase of Livelink, an electronic records management system project, which has replaced the existing paper-based records management system.
Introduction of mobile computing capabilities has enabled more efficient work practices for key water and sewerage operations people, and new data communications services have been provided to Melbourne Water locations including Mt Waverley, Warburton and Maroondah.