Sustainability Report 2006/07Keeping the community and stakeholders informed
Early engagement with the community and other key stakeholders is an important approach for Melbourne Water on the way to establishing constructive relationships and raising awareness about our activities.
We liaise closely with residents, businesses, community groups, key Government agencies, public transport authorities, councils and the retail water businesses.
Major projects that involve community and stakeholder liaison include the Northern Sewerage Project in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
Updates are provided regularly to Moreland and Moonee Valley councillors and residents, along with community forums. In addition to a dedicated 24-hour community telephone line, a Northern Sewerage Project website has been established (www.nsp.net.au).
This year, two large acoustic enclosures were installed to contain noise at worksites at Brearley Reserve in Pascoe Vale, and De Chene Reserve in Coburg.
Another critical project is the Melbourne Main Sewer replacement project, which involves a new sewer being built from the Docklands to Port Melbourne.
The project includes a crossing of the Yarra River upstream of the Charles Grimes Bridge. Construction will be staged, enabling two-thirds of the river to remain open at all times. Communication with river users will seek to minimise the impacts of these works.
As part of this project, Melbourne Water developed in-principle agreements during the year with key stakeholders including VicRoads, EPA Victoria, City West Water, the City of Melbourne and City of Port Phillip to minimise community disruption through strong working relationships and open and timely communication.
As a result of feedback from residents, the construction site compound at Swallow Street, Port Melbourne, has been reduced to maintain parking for local residents.
Community engagement is also an integral part of the construction of the Tarago water treatment plant, the new St Albans water main, and the Sugarloaf Pipeline (see Water, page 12).
Melbourne Water is responsible for funding and constructing the Sugarloaf Pipeline, which will link the Goulburn River near Yea to the Sugarloaf Reservoir in Melbourne’s north-east.
Stakeholder briefings, meetings with individual landowners and information sessions are some of the ways that Melbourne Water has connected with the community potentially affected by proposed pipeline routes.
Information packs and bulletins are distributed regularly throughout the region, along with a regular column in the local press.