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YWP Tour of the Orchard Hills Water Filtration Plant - Australian ...

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Getting to know...Grab SampleName: Angus SeberryTitle: Manager Environment & Sustainability,Hunter <strong>Water</strong> Corporation.Bio: I have spent my entire career in <strong>the</strong> waterindustry working with both Sydney <strong>Water</strong>and Hunter <strong>Water</strong>. As Manager Environment &Sustainability at Hunter <strong>Water</strong> I am responsiblefor managing a small team <strong>of</strong> people working onwater efficiency, energy efficiency, sustainabilityand environmental management support. I live in Newcastle and I’mmarried with two young daughtersMost vivid childhood memory involving water?Snorkeling on <strong>the</strong> Great Barrier Reef for <strong>the</strong> first time. Seeing big, colourfulfish up close blew my mind.What was your first job and how did you get it?There was a sign up out <strong>the</strong> front <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> local chicken hatchery. My jobwas collecting eggs, mowing lawns and fishing out dead chooks from <strong>the</strong>cages.How did you end up involved in <strong>the</strong> water industry?As part <strong>of</strong> my last year <strong>the</strong>sis at university I investigated <strong>the</strong> benefits <strong>of</strong>using sewage sludge in mine rehabilitation. That led to a job with Sydney<strong>Water</strong> and I have been in <strong>the</strong> water industry ever since.Favourite part <strong>of</strong> your job?Great diversity. I get involved in construction, operational issues andstrategic planning in <strong>the</strong> normal course <strong>of</strong> a day. I get to be involved intraditional environmental management issues as well as new challengingissues.Worst part <strong>of</strong> your job?I don’t get out in <strong>the</strong> field as much as I would like.Most boring job you’ve ever had?Stuffing envelopes.Most bizarre job you’ve ever had?Sampling sludge lagoons in a boat.Pastimes / hobbies?I love water sports.What’s <strong>the</strong> riskiest thing you’ve ever done?Possibly taking an ultra-light flight over Victoria Falls.What is <strong>the</strong> water supply situation in your local area?<strong>Water</strong> storage levels in <strong>the</strong> Lower Hunter are at about 80% however ourwater storages can drop very quickly and hence we would be highlyvulnerable if our region experienced a major drought. The Tillegra Damproposal was recently rejected and hence over <strong>the</strong> next few years Hunter<strong>Water</strong> will be working alongside <strong>the</strong> NSW Office <strong>of</strong> <strong>Water</strong>, governmentstakeholders and <strong>the</strong> community to develop a sustainable long term waterplan for <strong>the</strong> Lower Hunter.How do water restrictions impact on your community’s lives?The last time Hunter <strong>Water</strong> went into water restrictions was for a fewweeks in <strong>the</strong> early 1990’s and before that was in <strong>the</strong> early 1980’s and henceit is a very long time since our customers have been subject to restrictions.We have been very fortunate to avoid <strong>the</strong> drought that hit most o<strong>the</strong>rparts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> country. It is <strong>the</strong>refore difficult to convince our communitythat we really need greater water security.Your ideal weekend consists <strong>of</strong> …?I love camping weekends up <strong>the</strong> coast with family and friends.What are you currently reading?Kids story-time books, usually about fairies and princesses.Favourite food?A home cooked roast is hard to beatFavourite book?The Power <strong>of</strong> One by Bryce CourtneyWhat’s your vision for <strong>the</strong> water industry in 10 years time?I think <strong>the</strong> next decade will see lots <strong>of</strong> changes. I believe that we will usewater and energy much more efficiently. Energy and resource recovery willbecome prominent issues and <strong>the</strong> <strong>Australian</strong> water industry will developrobust and sophisticated plans that improve our resilience to increasedclimate variability and extreme wea<strong>the</strong>r events.How much value does community participation add to our industry?Community participation in water utility planning will invariably led tobetter outcomes. <strong>Water</strong> planners have learnt (sometimes <strong>the</strong> hard way)that projects with inadequate community consultation carry high levels <strong>of</strong>risk. Like most things it is about finding <strong>the</strong> right balance.What are your views on indirect potable reuse?It is only a matter <strong>of</strong> time. Getting <strong>the</strong> first scheme up in Australia willbe a challenge but eventually it will be accepted as a safe, viable andsustainable way <strong>of</strong> managing our water into <strong>the</strong> future.What’s your greatest asset?PerseveranceWhat’s your greatest liability?Can <strong>of</strong>ten over commit myselfBest advice you’ve ever been given?Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, <strong>the</strong>y make great learning opportunities.Who inspires you and why?Having watched my wife Cathy give birth last week I would definitely sayher.If <strong>the</strong>re were one thing you could achieve in your lifetime, what would itbe?Finding a cure for cancer but I’m probably in <strong>the</strong> wrong vocation for that.Name 3 people you’d like to be stranded with on a desert island?The bush-tucker man for food, Billy Connelly for entertainment andAngelina Jolie to help us escape.If you had a time machine and could choose a date to go back to/forwardto, what year would you pick and why?It would have been cool to be standing on <strong>the</strong> Berlin Wall <strong>the</strong> night it camedown.6

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