Coliban Water recognises environmental risk management as a fundamental part of the business and while continuing to implement environmentally sound policies and procedures, the business applies considerable effort to improving the breadth and detail within the business’ Environmental Management System (EMS), to better consider how we impact upon living, natural ecosystems and from an accountability perspective, work towards gaining international certification.

The renewal of the corporate Environmental Policy during the past year reinforced Coliban Water’s intention and commitment to taking more of a longer-term, sustainability approach and life-cycle impact consideration for all of Coliban Water’s activities.  The renewed policy outlines the mitigation approach required to manage all relevant environmental risk associated with its activities.

In recognition of the resulting comprehensive quality system framework that is led by our Environmental Policy,  and the business’ focus on continual improvement, Coliban Water had its EMS certified against the AS/NZS ISO 14001:2004 international standard for environmental performance on 12 June, 2006.  An achievement of which the business is very proud.

The certified EMS, identifies environmental aspects and impacts for all of our operational activities, assesses their inherent and residual risk as well as the level of management controls that are in place.  It provides the business with essential procedures and information to mitigate the potential impacts that business’ activities may have on the environment.  It also enables us to identify, respond to and better manage environmental incidents when they do occur, such as point source pollution and environmental damage.

Fairy Wren - (photo by: Russell Phillips - Campaspe Asset Management Services)

Willow removal work undertaken downstream of Malmsbury

 Coliban Water’s EMS enables;

• extensive regulatory obligations to be met and the expensive costs of non-compliance to be avoided;
• the ecological health of the natural environment to be protected;
• the risk of serious injury to third parties to be reduced;
• the protection of property and reputation;
• a business quality system that can demonstrate environmental due diligence;
• a proactive program to control environmental incidents if they occur;
• direct cost savings to the business by avoiding environmental impact and improving operational practices; and
• a system of continuous improvement.

Procedures and management plans are in place to minimise all identified areas of high or extreme environmental risk.  These are monitored and evaluated regularly by the newly formed Environmental Management Group.

Environmental sustainability in the Coliban Water context, has been defined to cover the concept of intergenerational equity, polluter and user pay principles, prevention of pollution, optimal ecological design, life-cycle responsibilities for materials and assets and increasing the use of adaptive management approaches.  Coliban Water is committed to the principles that underpin this broader context for environmental management and to developing and implementing our environmental management system to better understand and support them.

In-stream wateway erosion.

Barkers Creek Reservoir - taken when drained for outlet upgrade