To meet the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 and Food Act 1984, we provide signage where urban water supplies are untreated. We seek commercial businesses’ and Councils’ assistance to ensure public water taps are clearly signed to warn the public that the water is not intended for human consumption.

Please complete the below form to order untreated water supply merchandise. We will provide these to you, free of charge, as soon as possible.

Commercial Businesses

We remind commercial businesses to inform their guests that the mains water supply is a non-drinking water supply. We encourage you to place ‘do not drink the water’ notification at public taps in and around your establishment.

Councils

We provide signage where urban water supplies are untreated. The signage assists Council with the implementation of its Public Health and Wellbeing Plan.

It would be appreciated if Council could ensure signage is visible at all publicly accessible taps located in areas where an untreated water supply is provided such as aerodromes, sporting grounds, parks, public facilities and meeting places such as community halls, public toilet blocks, amenities at lakes and weir pools. Please also consider any local committees of management that operate on crown reserves in your municipality. We ask that you make untreated water signs, stickers and publications, as listed below, available to these groups from your council offices/depots.

GWMWater acknowledges and pays respect to past, present and emerging Traditional Custodians and Elders connected to the GWMWater service area and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We acknowledge:

• the valuable connection of Indigenous cultures to the heritage of all Australians;
• the historic occupation of the Grampians, Wimmera and Mallee regions by Aboriginal peoples;
• the importance of protecting sites of high significance to traditional owners being Indigenous places, objects, ancestral remains and intangible heritage;
• the historical, artistic, scientific and social or spiritual value that places, objects and collections have for past, present and future generations;
• the cultural heritage significance of Aboriginal traditions related to land and water.

GWMWater is proud of our relationships with Traditional Owners and we are working hard to be more inclusive and provide more opportunities for involvement in the water industry. We are building on past activities to prepare an Aboriginal Inclusion Plan to document our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. 

GWMWater works closely with Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs) in the development of Cultural Heritage Management Plans (CHMPs) for many of our capital projects. Where there is no appointed RAP, we work with First Peoples State Relations to protect our heritage during works. Cultural heritage is also considered in relation to our routine and operational activities. In fact, GWMWater and Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation were presented with a Premier's Sustainability award in 2019 for work on CHMPs for the South West Loddon Pipeline.

GWMWater is a public land manager with a large estate spread across our service area. We assess crown land against a variety of criteria including our obligations under the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 and Native Title Act 1993. GWMWater has embraced its duty under Land Use Activity Agreements to provide recognition and community benefit to native title holders.

There are several RAPs representing the interest of Traditional Owners associated with the GWMWater Service Area:

• Barengi Gadjin Land Council (BGLC)
• Djaara (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation)
• Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC)
• First people of the Millewa Mallee Aboriginal Corporation
• Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation
• Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation

A number of standalone Traditional Owner groups are engaged in our service area:

• Wadi Wadi Wemba Wamba Barapa Barapa First Nations Aboriginal Corporation
• Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN)
• Dadi Dadi Weki Weki Aboriginal Corporation
• Latji Latji Mumthelang Aboriginal Corporation
• Wadi Wadi Traditional Owner group
• Wadi Wadi Land & Water Indigenous Corporation

GWMWater is an equal opportunity employer. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are encouraged to consider a career at GWMWater. Those seeking information or advice about roles in the water industry can call us on 1300 659 961.

In March 2021 Victoria introduced the Gender Equality Act 2020 (The Act).  The Act seeks to improve and promote workplace gender equality by mandating public sector organisations to develop and implement a Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP).  

Public sector organisations, such as GWMWater, play an important role in shaping services and policies impacting gender equality in the community and in role modelling gender equality to the public that we serve.  

In developing the GEAP, we acknowledge that gender inequality can be amplified by disadvantage or discrimination arising from other characteristics such as Aboriginality, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, race, religion and sexual orientation.

Download the Gender Equality Action Plan

Gender Equality

For GWMWater, gender equality means that we have a workplace that identifies and addresses disadvantage in all its forms and ensures equal access of opportunities and resources to all employees irrespective of their gender.

Gender

It is important to understand the difference between gender and sex. Gender is a social construct, where people see themselves as a man, woman, non-binary or gender-fluid. Sex refers to biological sex characteristics and includes male, female and intersex. Achieving gender equality helps to remove expectations on the sexes, allowing people to be equal, and ensuring freedom from stereotypes that may be limiting or damaging.

GWMWater has introduced a new process which requires all developers to enter into a Developer Agreement prior to starting works.

The agreements will apply to all new developments that require new infrastructure moving forward, with different requirements for minor and major works.

This process is in line with industry practice and formalises the requirement for developers to deliver works to GWMWater standards. The terms of the agreement include some new requirements relating to pre-qualification of construction contractors and provision of defects security.

An agreement provides clarity to both parties and will avoid situations where the costs of rectifying defects falls on GWMWater and its customers.

We encourage you to contact us and prepare your paperwork early to avoid delays.