Seqwater is the Queensland Bulk Water Supply Authority, a Queensland Government authority established under the South East Queensland Water (Restructuring) Act 2007. In December 2010, the Queensland Government announced the merger of the Queensland Bulk Water Supply Authority and the Queensland Manufactured Water Authority (WaterSecure) so that as of 1 July 2011 the Queensland Bulk Water Supply Authority will supply both bulk supply services and manufactured water services for the region.
We work collaboratively with partner water entities as part of the SEQ Water Grid, which manages South East Queensland’s water supplies through a connected network of drinking water pipelines and a coordinated supply-chain management approach. The connected SEQ Water Grid assets allow water to be moved across the region to where it is needed most.
At Seqwater, we believe good corporate governance should encourage performance, innovation and value, yet provide high levels of accountability and risk management. As Seqwater has been established we have developed and refined our governance processes and policies to reflect increasing levels of management accountability, efficiency and effectiveness.
Reporting to the Queensland Government
Seqwater is responsible to two Ministers:
- Honourable Mark McArdle MP, Minister for Energy and Water Supply
- Honourable Tim Nicholls MP, Treasurer and Minister for Trade
We report on our performance to the Ministers’ offices on a regular basis through quarterly reports, as well as the annual report. Adhoc briefings are also supplied to the Ministers as required.
In line with these Ministerial responsibilities, we have corresponding relationships with Queensland Treasury and the Department of Environment and Resource Management. These relationships cover reporting, oversight and the regulation of our catchment, storage, manufactured and water treatment business activities.
We also have regulatory relationships with Queensland Health, under the Water Fluoridation Act 2008, and relevant departments in regard to the delivery of major water projects.
Leadership and Management Structure
The Seqwater Board is committed to providing effective governance and strategic direction to ensure our long-term success. Meet our Board members and find out more about how our Board operates, including its Committees.
Our leadership structure includes a Chief Executive Officer and five Executive General Manager positions.
- Executive General Manager – Water Delivery
- Executive General Manager – Asset Delivery
- Executive General Manager – Business Services
- Executive General Manager – Organisational Development
- Executive General Manager – Technical, Warranty and Development
For more information on our Board and Executive Leadership Team see our Annual Report.
Audit and Risk Management
Our internal audit function supports the Corporate Governance Framework by assuring the Board (through the Audit Committee) that effective and adequate internal controls are in place. In line with our Internal Audit Charter, an Internal Audit Plan has been developed. The implementation and status of recommendations is reviewed quarterly and is ongoing.
Our approach to risk management has evolved to place equal emphasis on the optimisation of opportunities and mitigation of negative risk.
Compliance
Our dedicated compliance function is responsible for rolling out a compliance program that complies with, and implements, the Australian Standard AS 3806-2006 Compliance Programs.
The compliance function is part of the Business Services group, and reports regularly to the Board, Audit Committee, Chief Executive Officer and senior management.
Integrity and Public Expectations
The Board and the Management team of Seqwater are committed to high standards of integrity, professionalism and accountability.
Seqwater has developed a Code of Conduct that outlines how we work; our expectations and the standard of behaviour expect of employees. Together with our values, the code helps us to understand our personal responsibilities and obligations, and guides us if we face an ethical dilemma or conflict of interest in our work.
View the Seqwater Code of Conduct Policy and the Board Code of Conduct Policy.
Seqwater is currently developing a Conflict of Interest Policy, which, amongst other things, deals with potential conflicts due to trading and investments of Officers and Senior Management. The policy will be published online once it is finalised.
Seqwater is committed to ensuring that any employee who makes a public interest disclosure can seek protection under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2011.
View the Seqwater Whistleblowers Policy and Public Interest Disclosure Procedure.