personnel

board elections

pioneer valley water board

... all board seats are vacated every three years (next in April 2012). If the number of subsequent nominees for election to the Board exceeds three, a postal ballot is accordingly held for the Grower Elected Director positions. A Special Interest Director is then nominated by the Board, and the final Director is appointed by Mackay Sugar as their representative on the Board.

pioneer valley water co-operative limited

... two Directors retire annually on a rotational basis, but are eligible to stand for re-election/re-appointment. If the number of subsequent nominees for election to the Board exceeds the number of Active Member Directors retiring, a postal ballot is accordingly held. If an Independant Director has retired in the rotation, the Board may nominate the same or another qualified person to fill the vacated seat. This process should ordinarily be completed for ratification at the Annual General Meeting for the co-operative.

directors

The Board of the Pioneer Valley Water Board consists of three Grower Elected Directors, together with one Director nominated by Mackay Sugar Co-operative, and one Special Interest Director nominated by the Board.

The Board of the Pioneer Valley Water Co-operative Limited consists of three Active Member Directors, and two Independant Directors nominated by the Board.

For operational efficiency, PVWater's Board's currently consist of the same Directors, as follows;

andrew cappello - chairperson

Andrew is a sugar-cane farmer and harvesting contractor who has been with PVWater since it's formation in 1996, initially in the role of Deputy Chairperson, before assuming the Chair in July, 2000. Andrew has an allocation with PVWater which he accesses through the Silver McGregor reticulation scheme. Andrew is also Deputy Chair of the Board of Mackay Sugar and a Director with Mackay Area Productivity Services ( MAPS ).

clive desbois - director

Clive has been Mackay Sugar Co-operative's nominee to PVWater since April of 2003, and prior to retirement, held the position of Manager Finance and Administration with Mackay Sugar. Clive is a member of the National Institute of Accountants and provides the Board with valuable guidance, particularly in financial matters.

john formosa - director

John is PVWater's nominated Special Interest Director, and was initially appointed to the Board in November of 2003. John is a member of the Mackay and District Law Association, a Partner with Macrossan and Amiet Solicitors in Mackay, and is Chairman of the Mackay Local Marine Advisory Committee. John provides the Board with valuable guidance, particularly in legal matters.

lawrence bugeja - deputy chairperson

Lawrence was elected to the Board of PVWater in June 2005 subsequently moving to the role of deputy chairperson in November, 2008. A long-term sugar-cane grower, Lawrence has a riparian water allocation which he accesses from the Pioneer River. Lawrence has a deep commitment to sugar production in the region, reflected in his roles as Chairperson of Mackay Area Productivity Services ( MAPS ) and a Director of Mackay Canegrowers Limited. Lawrence is heavily involved in several CANEGROWERS committees, and is also a Member of the Mackay Sugar Industry Partnership and the Central Region Sugar Group.

stephen russell - director

Stephen is a sugar-cane farmer, accessing his riparian water allocation from the Pioneer River. Stephen was elected to the Board of the Pioneer Valley Water Co-operative Limited in November, 2008, and was simultaneaously appointed as an observer to the Pioneer Valley Water Board pending elections in April 2009.

staff

PVWater's Staff form a compact team dedicated to providing a reliable irrigation water supply at minimum cost. Current staff members are:

john palmer - manager

John was seconded to PVWater on a part-time basis from the (then) Department of Natural Resources in February 1997, following close involvement (as Chairman of the Pioneer Valley Steering Committee) with the Teemburra Dam Project from commencement in 1993. John's employment by PVWater as Manager on a full-time basis followed shortly thereafter. John is a Civil Engineer, and a member of the Institution of Engineers Australia, with extensive experience in the area of water resource and irrigation scheme management.

greg dawes - operations officer

Greg was employed by PVWater in April 1998 in the position of Operations Officer. Greg has a diverse background including experience in information technology, the finance sector, and the agricultural sector. Greg's responsibilities include systems monitoring / maintenance and water delivery, and he is the PVWater's first point of contact for infrastructure failures, water order variations and supply issues.

judy walsh - administration officer

Judy joined the staff of PVWater as Administration Officer in February of 2001. Judy has a background in administrative duties and customer service, and is PVWater's first point of contact for all financial and water usage enquiries. Whenever you contact us, there is a high probability that the friendly voice on the end of the line belongs to Judy.

richard faulkner - operations assistant

Richard joined the staff of PVWater as Operations Assistant in October of 2007. Richard has a rural and industrial background, having experience with machinery operation and maintenance, cane carting, stock control and purchasing, and ocupational health and safety. Richard is responsible for maintenance of infrastructure, stock control and meter reading. You will most likely encounter Richard in the field, servicing equipment or reading your meter.