New water HQ opens
BARWON Water’s head office has been officially reopened after its $32 million refurbishment.
State Water Minister and Bellarine MP Lisa Neville joined Barwon Water managing director Tracey Slatter at the Ryrie St building for the unveiling before employees and key stakeholders.
The original 1977 building has been gutted and transformed into one of Geelong’s most modern and environmentally friendly businesses.
Ms Neville said the launch represented “a new era for Barwon Water”.
“This is another great investment in Geelong contributing to the creation of jobs and also revitalising our CBD, bringing renewed life into the city,” she said.
“This is a new era for Barwon Water — one that builds on its past foundations of delivering affordable, secure, high-quality water.”
The building features a glass wall infill, sun-shading facade, a rain garden, a rooftop terrace and a community cafe, with renovations resulting in a 45 per cent saving on maintenance, operational and energy costs. It includes at open plan work space for 350 staff.
Ms Neville said it was vital an organisation such as Barwon Water led the way when it came to sustainable, environmentally responsible business.
“We’ve set a new standard here,” she said. “This upgrade has radically transformed the sustainability of the building, making it one of Geelong’s cleanest.”
The project was delivered on schedule for its proposed mid-2017 completion, and provided more than 100 construction jobs.
The budget for the upgrade was readjusted from $29 mil- lion to $32 million, which Ms Slatter said had to be done as more information became available in the planning and construction process.
The Barwon Water manager said she “couldn’t be happier with the outcome”.
Ms Neville used the opportunity to officially launch Barwon Water’s Strategy 2030 plan, which investigates how the organisation will deal with challenges brought on by economic, social and environmental change in the region.
Barwon Water’s aims in the strategy are: zero waste; zero emissions; all water from the wastewater treatment plants recycled; and a fast-tracking switch to renewable energy.
By the end of 2018, Barwon Water has vowed to implement the Wurdee Boluc wind, solar and battery renewable energy project; the Leather St maintenance centre and Ryrie St headquarters solar renewable energy; on-site behind the meter (99kW) initiatives at Anglesea, Bannockburn, Colac, Apollo Bay and Birregurra; and a business case for a Colac waste-to-energy (biogas) plant.
“The building features a glass wall infill, sun-shading facade, a rain garden, a rooftop terrace and a community cafe.”