MILES Hampton, the former chief executive of local agribusiness company Roberts Ltd, has been appointed the new chairman of Tasmania’s three water corporations.
Mr Hampton, who is also a board director of Mystate Financial and Forestry Tasmania, takes over the $140,000 a year part-time job on January 1 from outgoing chairman Geoff Willis.
He will also chair the shared services firm supporting the three regional water corporations, Onstream.
Hobart-based Mr Hampton, a previous chairman of Hobart Water from 2000 until 2005, was appointed after a national executive search process.
Brighton Mayor Tony Foster, representing Tasmania’s 29 councils who jointly own the three water corporations formed in July 2009, said the selection process had been “rigorous and national” in its scope.
The councils established an independent panel to interview and recommend a chairman, backed by a remuneration consultant.
“This is an absolutely vital role for the future of Tasmania’s water sector,” Mr Foster said.
Mr Hampton will be the Chairman of four corporations, who together supply essential services to 490,000 Tasmanians through businesses with a combined asset value of more than $2 billion and a capital expenditure budget of nearly $100 million each year.
Mr Willis attracted significant criticism last year in his new role after handing out watches and leather briefcases to staff in June last year to celebrate the first anniversary of the water corporations’
establishment, in the midst of heated community anger over rising new water bills.
Mr Willis, who announced he was quitting in August, only worked one day a week as chairman of the three corporations, despite being paid $135,000 a year.
ABC Online, Wednesday:
Water pay packet defended
The new chairman of Tasmania’s water and sewerage corporations says his salary is appropriate for the amount of work involved.
Miles Hampton will be paid $140,000 to work between one and four days a week from next month, when he replaces the outgoing chairman, Geoff Willis.
He has been a director of the corporations since 2008.
Mr Hampton says it will be a busy job.
“It’s four roles, four separate boards, it’s liaising with the government and the council owners and they’ve taken advice on what the appropriate remuneration is and I’ve been happy to accept that advice,” he said.
A spokesman for the corporations’ owner councils, Tony Foster, says the money is justified.
“When someone is working for a board, particularly as a chairman, the amount of time that they devote is really up to making sure that that board works right and they take forward to their meetings well thought out progress for the way we’re going in the future,” he said.
“Miles will bring that, he’s very experienced, not only in governments, but finance and he brings to this position exactly what the owners were looking for.”
