TasWater on the move

TasWater is seeking office space in Devonport for a new North West Coast headquarters as it relocates from its present site at Forth.

CEO Michael Brewster says TasWater will set up an office in Devonport to accommodate existing staff now working out of Forth, together with a state wide Customer Service Centre and Network Operations Centre.

The number of staff working at the new location should number up to 100 employees.

The call centre will handle all enquiries from across Tasmania and is seen as enhancing the local economy.

The changes will lead to the closure of small regional call centres in Launceston and Hobart, as well as shop fronts in Burnie and Queenstown. Services to these areas will be maintained through “pop-up” shops, established in conjunction with Service Tasmania and local councils.

TasWater will also centralise Network Operations with infrastructure monitored around the clock from the Devonport office. Michael Brewster said “the centre will utilise infrastructure monitoring telemetry designed to capture information from across our sewerage treatment and water distribution systems, directing work crews to where they are needed.”

Employees from locations which are being restructured will be offered redeployment to Devonport or other parts of the business.

TasWater is currently advertising for office space in Devonport with the option of moving into an existing building or developing a green field site.

“TasWater believes this will provide improved service to our customers as well as streamlining our process of responding to water and sewage maintenance calls with locally based repair crews all being maintained in their existing locations,” Mr Brewster said.

Water treatment plant facilities will remain in place at Forth along with a base for operations and maintenance crews.

The new Devonport office will be developed this year with all employees relocated by mid-2016.
Adrian Smith, TasWater