Through a twinning arrangement, MidCoast Water supports the Tonga Water Board, the Samoa Water Authority and the Independent Water Supplies Association of Samoa’ development.

The Tonga Water Board’s administration and customer services manager Elisiva Tapueluelu and finance manager Kolopeaua Tonga visited MidCoast Water from September 24 to October 1

They visited the Forster and Taree offices and several sites, including the Bootawa Water Treatment Plant.

MidCoast Water acting general manager Brendan Guiney said the aim of the twinning partnership was to enhance the skills, service delivery and operational efficiency of utilities in developing countries.

Mr Guiney said the visitors looked at setting fees and charges for water, customer service and complaints management.

Because of the partnership’s success, 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 twinning arrangement includes 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 travelled to both Tonga and Samoa to look at how the two utilities operate and identify activities that will improve performance in key areas. 

“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.”