Highlights
'08

Here is a snapshot of some of our performance highlights for the year. More information can be found in the 'Our Performance' section.

Environmental

• We exceeded our residential showerhead exchange target of 33,800 in June 2008
• Our Water Wise For Life Home Water Audit and Retrofitprogram was trialled across 1,968 homes in our local area in April 2008. Eligible households received a water efficiency audit of their home by a licensed plumber and we swapped 1,743 showerheads, repaired more than 3,800 minor leaks and installed 2,682 tap aerators
• We launched our Water Wise for Life kiosk in January 2008 and travelled to six shopping centres in our service area to encourage showerhead exchanges and educate our community about water conservation in the home and garden
• The upgraded Altona Treatment Plant was fully compliant with its operating licence in its first full year of operation
• Work commenced on major rehabilitation of water mains in the Melbourne CBD and surrounding areas
• Two standpipes we manage at Melbourne Water’s Western Treatment Plant have supplied almost 162 million litres of Class A recycled water for the year
• We are working with Sunshine Golf Course on a sewer mining project which involves the treatment of waste water from a City West Water sewer at a small scale treatment plant, with the treated water being available for non-drinking purposes such as irrigation
• We achieved our target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions in line with
  the commitments made under our Sustainability Covenant with EPA Victoria
• We developed a comprehensive outfall model to assist in assessing the environmental aspects of treated effluent from our Altona Treatment Plant.

Economic

• We recorded an operating profit before tax of $42.2m (compared to $46.1m in 2006-07) and paid a dividend to the State Government of $24.5m (compared to $15.2m in 2006-07).
• Unbilled water continued to improve, with a year end result of 8.4% compared to 9.3% in 2006-07.
• The Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA) completed a Risk Framework Quality Review of City West Water in the second half of 2007-08. The review found that we had a strong risk management culture and effective risk management and assurance processes, and gave us an exemplary rating.
• We maintained our certified Quality, Environmental, Safety and drinking water quality (HACCP) systems.
• Overdue debt - measured as greater than 90 days debtors - was $0.9m at 30 June 2008 (compared to $1.0m in 2006-07).

Social 

• We sponsored a day of soccer matches in which young soccer players from across Victoria came together in March 2008 to play for the first ever Cultural Diversity Cup
• To cater for future developments in Melbourne’s Docklands, we commenced major works on the Dudley Street Branch Sewer
• We completed a new Water Learn it! Live it! resource kit for teachers
• We provided funding for a water tank for Tweddle Family Services
• We also contributed funding for a water-free, synthetic bowling green at Aberfeldie Bowls Club
• We visited over 50 ethnic and new migrant groups to provide information about our services
• Our Technical Development Program for engineering graduates continued
• We commenced a partnership project with a water utility in the Philippines to help improve their pipe network.