Melbourne Water has taken home two prestigious national awards this week at the 2021 Australian Water Awards, held in Adelaide.
The awards, run by the Australian Water Association, recognise individuals and organisations for their contribution to the water sector and the broader communities they serve.
Melbourne Water, alongside Aqua Metro Services, won the national Organisational Excellence Award for its Wara Paring ‘Come Walk the Path’ Indigenous Civil Construction Project.
The initiative involves a 100% Indigenous-owned civil construction business working on Melbourne Water projects, and aims to create job opportunities and pathways for young Indigenous people across the water industry.
Melbourne Water also took home the Water Industry Safety Excellence Award for its Confined Space Entry Simulator.
The simulator is a world-first safety training tool developed in partnership with Deakin University’s CADET Virtual Reality Training and Simulation Research Lab.
It provides a ‘real-world’ learning environment for Melbourne Water staff and contractors who regularly enter confined spaces, like sewers, to conduct maintenance and repairs.
Melbourne Water managing director Michael Wandmaker said winning the national awards was important recognition from the industry.
“We aspire to be industry leaders in innovation, safety, equality and diversity. I’m proud of our staff involved in these projects. This recognition of their ground-breaking work is well deserved,” he said.
Just last month the organisation was named as one of Australia and New Zealand’s best places to work in government.
READ MORE: Melbourne Water, Nillumbik Shire Council named best places to work in government
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