Mount Isa Water Board chair Steve de Kruijff says the Board's very good financial outcome will ensure long-term sustainability of the operations and provide significant contribution back to the Mount Isa City Council via the State Government's dividend sharing policy.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In its annual report for 2019-2020 the Water Board reported an after tax profit of $5.15 million with total operating costs $0.71 million under budget.
Mr de Kruijff said they achieved savings by tendering the supply of chlorine gas and some planned maintenance and the operations and maintenance transition activities that remained outstanding at June 30 also contributed to the underspend.
"We are pleased with the cost-effective service we continue to provide," Mr de Kruijff said.
"At $1.54 per 1,000 litres, our bulk water supply is very cost effective compared to the bulk water price paid in other metropolitan centres across Queensland.
"MIWB achieved this while continuing to make very significant capital investments in the system."
Major capital works included the Lake Moondarra Booster Pump Station upgrade to improve safe operation of high voltage equipment, a new clean water storage tanks to replace aged and deteriorated open tanks and system telemetry upgrade to a fully encrypted private radio network with a new base station
"We delivered 80 per cent of the planned capital budget, more than $6.4 million in infrastructure improvements, despite COVID-19 restrictions," Mr de Kruijff saod/
"We continue to operate on a largely outsourced model with in-house staff managing and coordinating contract firms and resources for the delivery of customer outcomes.
"During 2019-20, we successfully completed the transition of operations and maintenance to a local provider, the Mobilise Group Pty Ltd, after tendering our outsourced arrangements."
Mr de Kruiiff said wet season rainfalls were incredibly important for Mount Isa's water supply and we were fortunate in January to experience heavy rain in the region.
"Lake Julius reached full capacity and Lake Moondarra peaked at 93.3 per cent in early March with the lake finishing the year above the June average," he said.
"Water allocations for both schemes were announced at 100 per cent at the start of the 2019-20 water year. Overall, our dams are at their highest levels in eight years."
Mr de Kruijff said this peak in supply supported the prosperity of the region and the community could be confident of its water supply over the next several years.
"In 2019-20, nearly 21,000 water quality tests were conducted across the region's water distribution and treatment system, from 3,904 individual water samples," he said.
"MIWB achieved 100 per cent compliance with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines parameters for health and aesthetic quality".
Mr de Kruijff said MIWB continued to invest locally, helping to sustain existing industrial businesses and the broader community.
"The majority of MIWB's outgoings are with local suppliers and we continue to support community groups in their activities on the R48 Reserve, including being the major sponsor of the Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic."
The 2020 Fishing Classic was due to take place at the end of October but has been cancelled due to COVID.
Mr de Kruijff, a former Mount Isa Mines boss is joined on the board by Cr George Fortune, Lisa Clancy and Karen Read.
Danielle Slade resigned her position on the board after being elected mayor earlier this year.
MIWB has a staff of around 22 people, led by CEO Stephen Farrelly.
While you are here, subscribe to our weekly email delivered to your inbox every Tuesday and Friday.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
