REPRESENTATIVES from the Tonga Water Board will be in the Manning and Great Lakes next week as part of an international program which sees MidCoast Water supporting the improvement of water management practices in developing nations.
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Through a twinning arrangement that has been supported by the Asian Development Bank, MidCoast Water has been supporting the development of the Tonga Water Board, the Samoa Water Authority and the Independent Water Supplies Association of Samoa.
"The main aim of the twinning partnership is to enhance the skills, service delivery and operational efficiency of utilities in developing countries," MidCoast Water's acting general manager Brendan Guiney explained.
Visiting MidCoast Water through to next Thursday will be the Tonga Water Board's administration and customer services manager Elisiva Tapueluelu and finance manager Kolopeaua Tonga.
During their time in the area they are expected to split their time between MidCoast Water's Forster and Taree offices and visit several sites, including the Bootawa Water Treatment Plant.
Mr Guiney said the visitors will primarily be looking at the areas of setting fees and charges for water, customer service and complaints management.
As a result of the success of the work MidCoast Water has undertaken with the Tonga Water Board, the relationship has continued beyond its initial two year timeframe.
"We had talks with the CEO of the Tonga Water Board, Mr Saimone Pita Helu, when he visited us in 2014 and he expressed his desire to see the relationship continue beyond the initial timeframe indicated by the Asia Development Bank."
Mr Guiney said the MidCoast Water board endorsed a continuation of the partnership and the board's chairperson, Cr Tony Summers, discussed the terms of extension with representatives from the Tonga Water Board during a visit he will made to the Pacific Island later at the end of 2014.
The twinning arrangement has included hosting visits from both Tonga and Samoa and allowing their representatives to learn more about the Australian water industry and our work practices.
In turn, MidCoast Water representatives have travelled to both Tonga and Samoa to look at how the two utilities operate and identify activities that will improve performance in key areas.
The relationships are further developed by regular phone and email contact, Mr Guiney explained.
"Some of the issues affecting Pacific utilities include water losses of 40 to 50 per cent, intermittent water supplies and often basic, or little or no reticulated sewerage.
"The Tongan project is focussing on improving performance in two key areas reducing water loss and implementation of asset management."
