New Look Board for GVW

Minister for Water, the Hon. Tim Holding, has announced the appointment of Don Cummins as the Chair of Goulburn Valley Water from 1 November 2007. He has also announced the reappointment of Denis Flett and the appointment of a new director Bruce Nicholls.

Goulburn Valley Water’s Managing Director, Mr Laurie Gleeson said that he was looking forward to working with the new chair and directors to steer the Corporation towards a sustainable future. “Most people know Don Cummins for his previous role as Chairman of Goulburn-Murray Water and he has been on our Board since February 2007,” said Mr Gleeson. “Don is also on the Board of the Goulburn Broken CMA, a member of the Murray Darling Basin Commission Community Advisory Committee and has previously served on Delatite and Mansfield Shire Councils.”

Mr Cummins said that on of the biggest concerns for the Board is the potential impact of climate change on rainfall patterns and inflows into catchments. “We will continue to monitor the adequacy of town water storages and some of them are currently being increased to protect town water supply reliability,” he said. “This in turn will mean an increase in storage costs and water price rises into the future.”

“Customers have been very good responding to the recent tough water restrictions and Goulburn Valley Water is focussed on long term planning to ensure adequate supplies to all our 54 towns,” said Mr Cummins.

Mr Gleeson said that Bruce Nicholls is a resident of Mitchell Shire and has been appointed to the Corporation’s Board for a three year term. “Bruce is a former Australian Trade Commissioner, Board member of several Public Companies and Director of State Development in NSW (with responsibility for all major Investment and Infrastructure in that State),” he said. “I believe that Bruce is well placed to make a very positive contribution to the Corporation.”

“Bruce is also a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a former Trustee for the Committee of Economic Development of Australia and former Chairman of the RACA. He is currently Managing Director of Capital Holdings & Development Ltd,” said Mr Gleeson. “Bruce also farms locally and has served on the Kilmore Hospital Board, as President of Southern Mitchell Rotary and as an active member of Landcare, the CFA and other local community organisations.”

Bruce Nicholls said that he sees his role as supporting his Board colleagues in serving the best interests of the State Government, as the Shareholder and all the Corporation’s customers relying upon the Corporation’s services. “Water security is a major challenge of our times and I am honoured to be given this opportunity to contribute in this important area” he said.

Mr Gleeson said that the reappointment of Denis Fleet provides continuity, a wide knowledge base and experience. “Denis has been on the Corporation’s Board since November 2005 and is the Manager Rural Water with Sinclair Knight Merz, the Chair of the National Program for Sustainable Irrigation and President of the Tatura Football Netball Club,” he said. “Denis was previously the foundation Chief Executive and a Board Director of Goulburn-Murray Water and a Victorian Commissioner of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission. He holds a bachelor of Civil Engineering degree from Monash University, is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Australia and a Fellow of The Australian Institute of Company Directors.”

“When there is a change of Board Directors you inevitably have to say good-bye to someone and this is no exception.” said Mr Gleeson. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jenny Houghton from Longwood who has been on our Board since November 1997 and who for the past two years held the position of Chair.”

“I join with my fellow Directors of the Board and senior management in wishing Jenny well in her future endeavours.”