| If there’s one skill that Gary Wills has learned in his 35 years in the water industry, it’s diplomacy. And if there’s a second skill, it’s juggling.
Gary is Southern Rural Water’s Field Officer for the Hopkins catchment. He is the corporation’s eyes and ears out in the field, doing inspections and helping water licence holders and the community understand what they can and can’t do.
“I always listen to what people have to say, and they know I’ll be honest with them. Applying and enforcing the Water Act is something that has to be done, that’s just part of the job.
“I really enjoy my interaction with farmers and I feel comfortable talking with them at any level. I think knowledge of the area and how groundwater and river water interacts is extremely important in this role.”
And knowledge is something Gary does have. He started with the State Rivers and Water Supply in Camperdown in 1975 and has stayed with the organisation through its many changes. In 2002, he moved from Camperdown to start the Southern Rural Water Warrnambool Office – now a very busy centre with seven staff.
Originally Gary was heavily involved in administration but about 15 years ago, he went out into the field – and obviously found his niche.
“I’ve seen some remarkable things with water, especially with artesian water,” he said. “I can tell you that water does flow uphill! But I still have got a lot to learn, both about myself and the job.”
One of the biggest changes he has seen in his years out in the field has been the introduction of meters to better understand our water use. It has been a big exercise to introduce them, and now Gary reads and maintains more than 600 meters.
As well as that, he also has the challenge of juggling the balance between water licence holders and the environment.
“I’m always looking at the weather; I’ve learned to see the relationship between it and environmental flows,” he said. “I get a lot of pressure from environmentalists who want more water for the environment, and a lot of pressure from irrigators who want more water for their farms. We have firm rules – and common sense – to follow. I have to consider all of our customers, and the environment too. I have to get the balance right.”
As an example, the Merri River has a nine stage roster system. Gary changes the roster on a daily basis according to the trigger levels in the river. He calls it his “juggling act”.
However, he says managing groundwater is far more difficult. “Most people don’t understand how groundwater works, and the interaction between groundwater and rivers,” he said. “Groundwater is out of sight, out of mind. One of our challenges is to educate people about aquifers and groundwater.”
For more information about water licences, rostering or groundwater, please contact Southern Rural Water on 1300 139 510.
ENDS.
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