Carnarvon Shire president Del Mills to head Water Services Committee

27/11/97

Carnarvon Shire president Del Mills is to head the Carnarvon Water Services Committee, established to help the Water Corporation manage the town's water supply, wastewater and irrigation services.

Water Resources Minister Dr Kim Hames said today Mrs Mills was an excellent choice because of her specialised knowledge of Carnarvon issues.

"I am confident her appointment will ensure the Water Corporation's efforts over the past months to establish a structure geared to the region's future needs will be successful," Dr Hames said.

"The establishment of the committee is the final step in creating a model for the future designed to improve on the district's water availability."

Dr Hames said plantation owners Paul Nevill and Denis Bumbak had been appointed by the corporation as the two irrigation representatives on the committee.

Water Corporation representatives are Don Young - who is also a member of the corporation's board of directors - Mid-West regional manager Murray Johnsen and corporation strategy manager Jan Vanden Driesen.

"Mr Nevill and Mr Bumbak have considerable experience as growers in the district," the Minister said.

"The Water Corporation is still to decide on a business representative for the committee but is expected to do so shortly. This will complete committee appointments."

Dr Hames said water services for Carnarvon would be managed as a semi-autonomous business unit, with the business operations and business position clearly identifiable and separate from the Water Corporation.

The services provided included the management of bulk water allocation from the Water and Rivers Commission for the private bores in Basin A.

"The Water Corporation will appoint a manager to run the business unit who is expected to begin work in January," Dr Hames said.

He said the corporation would also establish a Water Allocation Advisory Committee with technical expertise to help the management committee handle water allocation issues in the Carnarvon district.

"This committee will also include irrigators," he said.

"Every effort has been made to ensure the district will be provided with services in the most effective and efficient manner possible."

Media contact: Caroline Lacy (08) 9424 7450