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New
research agreement to benefit communities and environment
across South-West Victoria
 Deakin
University and Wannon Water have signed a new four-year
research agreement.
Called The Memorandum of Understanding for Research Cooperation,
the new partnership will deliver better water and sewer services
for south-west Victoria through a range of strategic research
projects to be undertaken through Deakin.
The Agreement was signed in December, 2008 by Grant
Green, Managing Director of Wannon Water, and Professor
David Stokes, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) at Deakin
University.
“This Agreement formalises our relationship with Deakin
University”, said Mr Green.
“It identifies strategic research areas that will improve
the environmental, economic and social values of water use
in South West Victoria.”
Key research areas to be investigated under the Agreement
include integrated aquaculture using recycled water, renewable
energy from biomass sources, and social and economic values
and impacts of different uses of water resources.
“Deakin University is very pleased to be increasing
our local partnerships,” said Professor Stokes. “This
Agreement with Wannon Water increases the effectiveness, efficiency
and flexibility of research services for the benefit of regional
communities.”
Wannon Water is already undertaking two significant research
projects with Deakin University. A $214,000 project looking
at reshaping water saving attitudes is being completed with
the support of the Alcoa Foundation and the Victorian Water
Trust, and is about to enter it’s third year. Joint
investigations into the changing population of fish species
in small streams of the southern Grampians have been undertaken
over recent years, and Wannon Water has now committed additional
funding to expand these critical environmental studies for
a further term.
Research developed under the new Agreement will form part
of Wannon Water’s $750,000 research program, supporting
it’s progress as a sustainable business. Funding
for the program, managed by Wannon Water’s Innovation
and Sustainability Department, has been secured as part
of the businesses five-year Water Plan, endorsed earlier
this year by the Essential Services Commission.
For more information about Wannon Water:
wannonwater.com.au
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