Community Involvement
At City West Water, we recognise that we have an important place in the community and that the community also has an important role in everything that we do.
Our Social Strategy underpins our involvement in our community programs and the initiatives in the strategy are aimed at producing targeted outcomes including the provision of appropriate services, education of customers, engaging the community and showing leadership. This is reflected in our Social Corporate Objectives:
Customers - right product, right price, right way
- Services matched to our customer needs
- Conservers, not consumers
- Clean producers, not polluters
People – for today and tomorrow
- Right people – right jobs – right outcomes
- Absolute safety
Community – leading and including
- Community leader and advocate in water cycle management
- Partnering for sustainable outcomes
Community Investment - Sponsorships
City West Water invests in our community as a way to build relationships and develop partnerships with our many stakeholders. We provide limited financial and in-kind support at corporate, commercial and local community levels within our service area.
For more information go the sponsorships page.
Community Consultation
City West Water is committed to working with our customers, community and stakeholders to develop effective long-term relationships, which foster a shared understanding of needs, expectations, priorities and goals and a greater public participation on issues that matter to them.
We operate three community committees:
- Community Liaison Committee
- Altona Treatment Plant Community Liaison Sub-Committee
- Customer and Community Engagement Committee
These committees are conduits to our community and aim to be representative of a wide range of community groups and interests.
Community Engagement
Our focus is naturally on water and water conservation. Following are some of our Community Engagement Programs
- Showerhead exchange program
- Water Conservation Solutions program
- Community Support Program
-
Water Speakers - ‘Water – Today for Tomorrow’. We are able to offer interested groups and organisations the opportunity of a City West Water speaker at events or meetings. Our speakers will present on City West Water’s key messages and programs with a focus on water conservation. Please email csi@citywestwater.com.au providing your name and daytime contact telephone number to register your interest.
For more information on these community engagement programs see our 2006 Sustainability Report case studies.
Community Assistance
City West Water’s community support contributes to building friendly, confident and safe communities and a fairer society that reduces disadvantage and respects diversity.
We try to assist customers who may be experiencing financial difficulties by providing a number of tools to manage their finances more effectively.
- Utility Relief Grants Scheme – if customers are in dire financial circumstances and can’t manage to get back on their feet, they may be eligible for a Department of Human Services grant via our Credit Management department.
- Hardship Assistance Program – if customers are not successful with the Utility Relief grant we will access the applicant’s eligibility to be included in our program.
- Referral of approved customers to free financial counselling services.
- Special Needs Customers Hardship Assistance – under approved circumstances we may assist customers with internal plumbing issues.
For further information on any of these programs please contact our Customer Service Centre on 131 691.
Community Partners
We have partnered with a number of not-for-profit organisations that directly support and work within the communities that we service in the CBD and inner and western suburbs.
- Abercare Family Services – provides services to individuals and families who have complex social and emotional needs.
- Good Shepherd Youth and Family Services – provide a range of services with a desire for social justice and a deep and genuine concern for people.
- Victoria University - develops the capacities of industry and communities within the western Melbourne region and beyond through vocational and higher education.
- Western Chances – assists young people in the Western Suburbs to realise their potential through the provision of scholarships and related programs.
- Whitelion – opens doors to opportunities, relationships and the community for young people who are involved in the juvenile justice system or are at risk of involvement.
- Federation Square – our partnership provides opportunities for water savings on site at Federation Square, but also provides us with a great vehicle to promote water conservation.