{"id":538,"date":"2016-08-24T05:26:56","date_gmt":"2016-08-23T19:26:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.growvic.com.au\/barwon-water-doing-the-grow-thing-2\/"},"modified":"2023-06-20T20:55:56","modified_gmt":"2023-06-20T10:55:56","slug":"barwon-water-doing-the-grow-thing-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.growvic.com.au\/barwon-water-doing-the-grow-thing-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Barwon Water: Doing the GROW thing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Barwon

About Barwon Water<\/strong><\/p>\n

Barwon Water (Barwon Region Water Corporation) is Victoria’s largest regional urban water corporation providing high quality water, recycled water and sewerage services.<\/p>\n

Sourcing locally<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the first steps toward implementing the GROW initiative for Barwon Water was to start integrating more local and social requirements in its Procurement Strategy. This included reviewing, procurement documentation, monitoring and reporting, extending social procurement activities, traineeship opportunities, and improving relationships with other organisations.<\/p>\n

Barwon Water is now speaking with several suppliers about\u00a0 supply chains and taking a more active role in sourcing more locally and socially.\u00a0 This is already being included in new contract documentation and discussion has started around\u00a0 developing targets and measures to be managed through the life of a contract.<\/p>\n

Redevelopment of Barwon Water\u2019s Ryrie Street headquarters also has created more than 100 jobs, 90 of them local. All major trades are represented, from concreters and electricians to steel workers and air conditioning specialists.<\/p>\n

Supporting socially<\/strong><\/p>\n

Barwon Water has recently taken on a trainee, who came through Northern Futures, and is pleased with the result..\u00a0 The trainee is working toward a successful traineeship and transition into full-time employment, which would be a fantastic outcome.<\/p>\n

Many Barwon Water positions are for graduates so the corporation is working with GROW partner Deakin University to build pathways for graduates who might come from GROW target communities.<\/p>\n

Barwon Water also engages directly with Social Enterprises for example, recently designing an approach with Karingal to clean fleet vehicles on site, \u201csaving time and effort, another win:win,\u201d says Paul Rawson, Manager Corporate Support Services.<\/p>\n

Positive outcomes<\/strong><\/p>\n