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OVERVIEW

About this report

Melbourne Water’s Sustainability Report 2007/08 describes our progress towards achieving our vision of Working Together to ensure a Sustainable Water Future, and how we met our business obligations from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008.

The report reviews our performance against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) detailed in our Corporate Plan, and against a selection of relevant sustainability or water industry-based indicators. It has used the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI): Sustainability Report Guidelines to guide reporting.

The reporting boundary covers areas that Melbourne Water is responsible for as an organisation. We have not included details of contractors or stakeholders, unless stated.

Melbourne Water is committed to the process of assurance and verification, and engaged an independent auditor to assess this report. The Independent Assurance Statement is on page 148.

Stakeholder consultation

Consultation and research with internal and external stakeholders about last year’s sustainability report helped shape this document. The research, conducted via interviews and group discussions in June and July 2008, found that the report was an appealing document, with content/information, structure and design rated highly. This consultation and research:

  • Refined and developed the reporting process so that the document is responsive to stakeholder needs
  • Enabled Melbourne Water to stay informed about the issues that are important to stakeholders
  • Ensured the report demonstrates best-practice transparency and accountability
  • Strengthened existing relationships and helped build new ones.

Reporting principles

As with last year’s report, information for the Sustainability Report 2007/08 was prepared consistent with the following principles relating to content and quality:

  • Balance – reporting favourable and unfavourable outcomes
  • Comparability – enabling information to be compared on a year-on-year basis, and with appropriate industry benchmarks
  • Accuracy – making every effort to ensure accuracy of data
  • Timeliness – aligning reporting processes
  • Clarity – explaining the concepts using clear and concise language
  • Reliability – data can be sourced and stands up to the assurance process
  • Materiality – ensuring that important business issues are covered
  • Stakeholder inclusiveness – identifying stakeholders and addressing their interests
  • Sustainability context – explaining how initiatives impact on our business sustainability, and sustainability more broadly
  • Completeness – ensuring transparency in the coverage of major business issues.

Creating a more sustainable report

We produced our first Sustainability Report, Towards Sustainability, in 2005, soon after we had developed our strategic framework. This document, Sustainable Water – A Strategic Framework, outlined our high-level goals and objectives for achieving our vision.

Towards Sustainability was our first attempt to assess our performance against the framework and sustainability indicators. At the time, we also produced an Annual Report. The following year, we combined the reports as sustainability principles became more fully integrated into our business processes.

Previously, we produced about 2000 printed reports a year to distribute to our stakeholders and the community. We also made the report available online via our website. Consistent with our sustainability principles, we have gradually reduced the number of printed publications we produce, including our Sustainability Report.

In most cases where printed copies are required (particularly for people with accessibility issues), we produce small quantities using environmentally friendly printing processes on recycled paper. Last year, we produced 500 printed copies (including 80 required for the Victorian Parliament) of the Sustainability Report on 100% recycled paper.

This year we have produced the required copies for Parliament and a summary version for distribution. We have made the online document user-friendly so that people can access sections of most interest to them more readily.

These printed copies were produced on 100% recycled paper using sustainable printing processes.

Online document

This report is available on the Melbourne Water website, melbournewater.com.au, along with financial statements and comprehensive social and environmental data for 2007/08. For people without internet access, please contact Melbourne Water on 131 722 for a CD of this report.

We welcome your feedback and invite you to fill in the form, which is on our website under ‘Publications’, then ‘Reports’.

Accessibility

If you would like to receive sections of this publication in large print, please telephone 131 722 or email inquiry@melbournewater.com.au