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Customer panel to provide community voice on GVW plan

Feb 8, 2024

**Customer feedback:** Whether it be wastewater or drinking water, if you have a keen interest in it, then Goulburn Valley Water has a panel for you. Photo by Megan Fisher

Goulburn Valley Water is creating a ‘customer panel’ to provide feedback and to help shape future projects and priorities for the water and wastewater services provider.

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GVW has invited homeowners, tenants and representatives of businesses to register an expression of interest in joining the new panel.

Representatives will be drawn from the 135,000 people living across GVW’s region, which takes in 54 centres from the outskirts of Melbourne in the south to the Murray River in the north, including Seymour, Shepparton and Cobram.

It said the Customer Accountability Panel would provide a key customer voice to reflect annually on progress across the 2023-28 Price Plan, which sets out GVW’s key priorities and projects for the next five years.

GVW managing director Steve Capewell said the new panel would be a continuation of the work achieved by customers as part of the previous 2018-23 Price Plan and during consultation and development of the current plan.

“Our customer panels have provided some really important insights and valuable feedback, and we’re committed to continuing to have a customer voice as we progress through our current five-year plan,” Dr Capewell said.

“We are keen to work with another group of customers who will help us review progress on our commitments and also contribute their views on future projects over the next couple of years.”

GVW said the new panel would also include members of the 2018-23 Annual Performance Forum and Customer Carbon Advisory Group to create a balance of fresh insights and prior experience.

The 2023-28 Price Plan is centred on four promises:

Provide reliable water and wastewater services customers can trust
Lead action and partner with communities to grow the region
Care for the environment and adapt to a future impacted by climate variability
Deliver respectful and responsive customer service, balancing affordability, value for money and fairness.

For more information or to submit an expression of interest, visit https://www.gvwater.vic.gov.au/customer-accountability-panel

The deadline for expressions of interest is Friday, March 8.