Barwon Water is thrilled to have claimed back-to-back national community engagement awards announced in Melbourne at the end of October.
The International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Core Value awards recognise organisations that genuinely engage with their communities on projects, following the IAP2 guidelines for engagement.
Barwon Water was recognised for its Water for our Future program, focussed on exploring how we can create a secure water future in the face of a hotter, drier climate and rapid population growth.
Last year Barwon Water won for its Birregurra Sustainable Communities project.
Barwon Water General Manager Customers and Community and Strategy Laura Kendall said it was fantastic to be recognised and thanked submission partner Mosaic Lab for their help in delivering the Water for our Future engagement.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took part in a survey, workshop, focus group, briefing, regional forum, deliberative panel session, responded to a poll, provided a submission, or stopped by one of our pop-ups to have a chat.
We were inspired by the considered, informed and forward-thinking views our community contributed. It gives us great confidence that our region understands and is willing to partner in the shared responsibility of managing our most precious resource.
— Barwon Water General Manager Customers and Community and Strategy Laura Kendall
Ms Kendall congratulated all the other winners and finalists and said it was wonderful to see community engagement projects in the spotlight.