Tasmanian Operator of the Year

Sponsored by TasWater

This is the most prestigious award presented to TasWater operations staff annually.  The award is presented to operators of network systems, or water or wastewater treatment facilities to recognise excellent performance, initiative and all round attention to detail.

As award sponsor, TasWater invites all employees to nominate appropriate “operations staff” to be considered for the award.

The criteria for the determination of the winner is as follows:

Nominees should be employed in Tasmania and should have direct responsibility for operational decisions for network systems or community water and wastewater treatment plants.

The following features are taken into account in considering worthy recipients:

  1. Continuing education/training achievement;
  2. Overall plant or system management and condition;
  3. Demonstrated attention to work, Health and Safety and other regulatory responsibilities;
  4. Initiative and innovation, demonstrating improved treatment and efficiency

The completed applications are judged by an independent panel nominated by the Water Industry Operators Association of Australia (WIOA) and the winner of the Tasmanian Operator of the Year Award will be announced.

The winner receives a perpetual trophy to keep for 12 months plus a personal trophy to keep permanently.  The winner will also join the WIOA operator delegation on their annual trip to New Zealand for a study tour and to participate in the WIOG NZ operations conference.

Previous Winners

2023 – Alexandra Smith (TasWater)
2022 – Shannon Spencer (TasWater)
2021 – Rex Townsend (TasWater)
2020 – Ben Halton (TasWater)
2019 – Leigh Walton (TasWater)
2018 – Rodney Innes (TasWater)
2017 – David Stacey (TasWater)
2016 – Jason Hall (TasWater)

Tasmanian Young Operator of the Year

Sponsored by TasWater

This award, sponsored by TasWater is designed to provide encouragement to young water industry employees by recognising excellent performance, initiative and all round attention to detail.

As award sponsor, TasWater invites all employees to nominate appropriate “young operations staff” of network systems or water or wastewater treatment facilities to be considered for the Award.

To be eligible for consideration the nominees:

  • Must be employed in an operational role in the Tasmanian water industry and be aged under 30 years
  • Must have been employed in the water industry for less than 5 years.

Nominations are judged on the basis of submissions covering:

  1. Commitment to and demonstrating a strong OHS ethic in all work performed
  2. Commitment to undertaking training and then implementation of skills learned into the workplace
  3. Commitment to team work and following enterprise SOP’s etc.
  4. Commitment to meeting Corporation and regulatory requirements in the course of all work
  5. Demonstrated use of initiative or suggestions leading to efficiency or safety improvements
  6. Any other relevant industry based achievements.

The completed applications are judged by an independent panel nominated by the Water Industry Operators Association of Australia (WIOA) and the winner of the Tasmanian Young Operator of the Year Award will be announced.

The winner receives a perpetual trophy to keep for 12 months plus a personal trophy to keep permanently.  The winner will also join the WIOA operator delegation on their annual trip to New Zealand for a study tour and to participate in the WIOG NZ operations conference.

Previous Winners

2022 – Cameron Stebbeings (TasWater)
2022 – Jamie Brown (TasWater)
2021 – Dean Edsall (TasWater)
2020 – Luke Chivers (TasWater)
2019 – Brielle Gray (TasWater)
2018 – Bradley Housego (TasWater)
2017 – Robert McDonald (TasWater)
2016 – Patrick Cotton (TasWater)

Ixom Best Tasting Tap Water in Tasmania

Sponsored by TasWater

Who has the Best Tasting Tap Water in Tasmania?

The Ixom Best Tasting Tap Water in Tasmania is a fun and exciting way to raise awareness of the quality of Tasmania’s drinking water and to recognise the efforts of local water service providers in delivering valuable water services to their communities.

Previous Winners

2022 – Fern Tree WPS Retic System – Fern Tree
2021 – Rocky Creek WTP – TasWater / Stornoway
2020 – Rossarden WTP – Rossarden (Also won 2020 Australia’s Best Tasting Tap Water)
2019 – Mount Leslie WTP – Launceston
2018 – Bryn Estyn WTP – Greater Hobart
2017 – Fenton Scheme – New Norfolk
2016 – Barrington WTP – Barrington (Also won 2016 Australia’s Best Tasting Tap Water)
2015 – Warratah WTP – Warratah
2014 – Bicheno WTP – Bicheno
2013 – Chimney Saddle WTP – Launceston

Eligibility

  1. All water treatment facilities in Tasmania are invited to participate in the Ixom Best Tasting Tap Water in Tasmania.
  2. All entries must have incurred no serious state or federal drinking water violations during the past year*.

Requirements

  1. Samples must be submitted in a clearly marked container with the name of the water treatment facility it represents and the location/town from where the sample is derived.
  2. We require 2 litres of the sample water which must be provided in 2 x 1 litre sealable containers.
  3. Samples are to be taken after the last chemical addition.
  4. Samples must be provided at room temperature (not cooled) and an entry form completed.
  5. Samples will be served at room temperature, to help the judges better taste, appreciate, and rank each sample.

Competition Judging

Heats

  1. The competition will be divided into a number of heats, with entries placed in each heat randomly allocated by WIOA staff and Advisory Committee members.
  2. Each heat will have a heat coordinator.
  3. Heat judging will be undertaken by attendees who shall taste all samples and select their most favoured water sample by giving it one vote.
  4. The sample with the most votes will be judged the heat winner and the winner will proceed to the Grand Final.
  5. In the case of a tie, the winner will be chosen by the heat coordinator from those that are tied.

Grand Final

  1. As with the heats, the origin of each sample will not be revealed. The samples will be judged by a panel nominated by WIOA comprising local public figures, technical water experts and water industry connoisseurs.
  2. Samples will be judged on a point scale from Good to Best.
  3. Scores will be aggregated and the winner will be the sample with the highest combined score. The winning water treatment facility and water supply location will be announced and presented with the IXOM Tasmanian Water Taste Test winners Trophy.
  4. Only the identity of the grand finalists and the water treatment facility of the winning sample will be announced. Grand Final or Heat samples will not be ranked, nor will any of the scores be released.
  5. The decision of the judges is final.

*A “serious” water quality incident includes protracted periods of poor water quality or boiled water alerts, an event leading to immediate potential public health risks or other break-down of risk-management protocols.

For more information, please contact WIOA on 03 5821 6744, or email info@wioa.org.au