Employer Profile

Organisation:
Watercare Services Ltd

Our mission statement:
To provide water and wastewater services that are economically viable, environmentally sound, socially responsible and responsive to customer needs, thereby enhancing the services of the company to all people across the Auckland region.

Number of total employees:
350

Number of engineering staff:
119

Number of staff who are IPENZ Members:
62

Where we are located in New Zealand:
Otago
Auckland

Where we are located overseas:

Types of engineering specialists we require to help us achieve our goals :
Watercare utilises the full range of engineering disciplines including civil, chemical, computer, electrical, electronic, environmental, mechanical and process engineering.
The two major divisions of the company focus on:
(i) Operations, with an average daily output of 374,000 m3 of A-grade drinking water and 313,000 m3 of wastewater treated (2007/2008)
(ii) Asset Management, responsible for assets valued in excess of $2 billion, including 10 dams, 1 river source, 1 underground source, 6 water treatment plants, 1 wastewater treatment plant, water and wastewater reticulation with associated reservoirs, pumping stations and advanced monitoring and control systems.

Major projects we are involved with/have been involved with :
The company is owned by its client councils and its function is to provide bulk water and wastewater services to the Auckland local authorities (or their respective water companies/franchisees), who are then responsible for the end-user services.
Watercare’s role also involves the long range planning and development of sustainable water supply and wastewater disposal facilities and systems. Recent major projects included the $450 M upgrade of the Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant and the development of a new water source, treatment facility and pipeline to bring water from the Waikato River to Auckland ($150 M).
Current major works include the development of a 3 km long, 3.7m diameter tunnel to replace a 90 year old concrete pipeline across Hobson Bay, at an estimated cost around $120 M.

How we support our employees :
(i) Free occupational health system
(ii) Sponsored study opportunities
(iii) Training and development programmes
(iv) In-house Continuing Professional Development programme (CPD)
(v) Group income and life insurance
(vi) Free Exercise Facility (at the head office, where over half the staff are located)
(vii) Free Exercise Facility at the wastewater treatment plant (where operations and maintenance staff are based and also accessible to Watercare Laboratory Services staff located nearby)

Training and development opportunities we offer our employees :
There is an annual Performance and Development Review (PADR) interview conducted with employees by their line manager. It addresses development and looks at both short term (1 to 2 years) and long term (beyond 2 years) aspirations and training needs of each individual.
Watercare has also negotiated an agreement with an engineering consultancy and a construction company to cooperate in the training of engineering graduates.
The concept underlying the agreement is to create broader training opportunities by opening up - on a secondment basis - the professional activities of all of three parties for engineering graduates employed by them. This is seen as enhancing the graduates’ development by exposing them to a greater variety of professional work than any of the parties could offer within their own business. The exchange of employees is done on a predetermined rotation designed around the training needs of the graduates involved.
CPD is regarded as an investment in people, not reward.

Continued Professional Development is included as part of employees remuneration packages
NO

How we support the community :
(i) We supply the community, industry and commerce with high quality potable water and environmentally acceptable wastewater treatment/disposal service. Watercare has an on-going upgrading / renewal programme of aging assets to ensure their continued safe operability into the future.
(ii) Watercare also supports a number of educational initiatives (e.g.: ‘Adopt a Stream’ for schools, the Rainforest Express, etc.) to engender interest in children about the environment.
(iii) We also provide staffed water-stops along the route for the annual ‘Around the Bays’ fun run, as well as many participants.
(iv) A staff initiative of some years’ standing is fundraising for Oxfam through a variety of ways, the major one being the sponsored 24 hour team-competition at Taupo. Several Watercare teams participate, many thousands of dollars have been raised and given to Oxfam.

Summer work placement opportunities:
Suitable projects are identified each year and students are selected on the basis of engineering discipline, year of study completed and selection interviews. The number employed in any year is determined by the availability of suitable project work. Up to 12 students are employed and students often return for new projects next year.

Scholarships and awards we offer:
Two $1,000 scholarships granted to promising students on vacation employment at Watercare as an inducement to return to the company for further experience/employment.

Website address:
http://www.watercare.co.nz

HR contact:
Mike Szabo - PDP Champion

HR contact email address:

HR contact phone number:
(09) 539-7470