The Western Australian Government has announced that it will bring operations and maintenance of Water Corporation’s water, wastewater and drainage networks in the Perth and Mandurah region back in-house, 25 years after services were privatised.
Water Corporation recently completed a review of the delivery of its operation and maintenance services in the Perth and Mandurah region. The review resulted in the Water Corporation Board determining that in-sourcing would be the best model for the future.
This is consistent with the way the services are delivered by Water Corporation in all other parts of the state.
A more consistent and integrated approach is expected to deliver several benefits, including estimated savings for taxpayers of $2-3 million per year, more streamlined customer interaction and rapid and effective decision-making when new asset investment is required.
The operations and maintenance services were originally privatised by the government in 1995. The current contract was entered into in 2012 with Programmed Facilities Management and was named Perth Region Alliance (PRA).
Water Corporation will now work with Programmed Facilities Management to transition the entire workforce and service provision by March 2020. All PRA employees will be provided continued employment with Water Corporation.
Western Australian Water Minister, Dave Kelly, said Water Corporation’s review of its operation and maintenance services identified that putting services back in public hands would save taxpayers’ money and ensure consistent services are provided to all customers across the state.
“We recognise the work and expertise of every PRA worker and are pleased to see them become employees of the Water Corporation,” Mr Kelly said.
“This not only means a new way of working to deliver greater value for the community, but more conditions and benefits for these employees that don’t exist under current arrangements.”
