City West Water QES Management System

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Purpose

City West Water’s vision is to be an exceptional service provider that puts customers first and benefits the community. We are passionate about community liveability and wellbeing. The Environmental Policy outlines how we seek to meet our environmental responsibilities.

Objectives

We are driven to care for, and where possible enhance, the environment – with an eye to the future and the challenges imposed by a changing climate. We seek to achieve the following strategic directions:

· The environment is protected.

· Risk is responsibly managed.

· Standards for environmental protection are met or exceeded.

· We lead in climate adaptation.

· We partner in climate change mitigation.

· Diversity of water resources.

· Water efficiency is a key contributor to resource optimisation

· Being influential in creating a better functioning water industry.

Scope

The scope of this policy is the Environment Management System (EMS), defined as “The design and development and the provision of reticulated potable and alternative water, and sewerage services to residential, industrial, commercial customers.

COMMITMENT

We consider each of the strategic directions in all of our business decisions. Our EMS provides a structure to meet our environmental responsibilities including:

· Prevention of pollution – reducing adverse environmental impacts by avoiding, reducing and controlling pollution from our operations.

· Continual improvement and learning – Improving overall environmental performance through a recurring process consisting of policy setting, planning, implementation, auditing and management review.

· Compliance with applicable legal requirements and other obligations to which we subscribe.

· Adapting to climate change and partnering on actions that mitigate climate change.

· Promote open exchange of environmental information (including on our significant environmental aspects) with customers, suppliers and the community to improve environmental awareness and to obtain feedback on our environmental performance.

· Intergenerational equity – respecting the needs of current and future generations.

· Enhancing the environmental performance and resource efficiency of customers, contractors, suppliers and other stakeholders where the outcomes are consistent with our business objectives.

· Embedding a range of programs that build stronger relationships, respect and opportunities with and for Aboriginal people and their communities through CWW’s Reconciliation Action Plan.

Implementation

· Identify significant risks and to continually improve our environmental performance.

· Take actions necessary to respond to the challenges of climate change.

· Implement the actions in our Environmental Sustainability Plan to meet the objectives and targets.

· Review the targets and actions set out in the Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP) by City West Water’s Board and our community where appropriate.

· Report progress against the targets and actions set out in the ESP to the City West Water Board, Executive Leadership Team and the community.

· Publicly report on our environmental performance via our Annual Report and the City West Water website.

· Consider Aboriginal cultural heritage sensitivity and ensure it is respectfully incorporated at all aspects of City West Water’s works through actions in CWW’s Reconciliation Action Plan.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Board is responsible for overseeing implementation of the policy.

The Executive Leadership Team is responsible for incorporating our environmental responsibilities into business planning and operational activities.

The Chief Financial Officer is responsible for directing, reviewing and reporting upon the implementation of the Environmental Policy in City West Water.

Managers and Team Leaders are responsible for understanding, implementing, maintaining and continually improving the environmental management system.

All employees are responsible for complying with relevant CWW policies, guidelines and processes related to this policy.

References

POL-9 Quality Policy

POL-11 Drinking Water Quality Policy

POL-20 Risk Management Policy

POL-58 Sewage Quality Policy

POL-44 Social Policy

IRD-11 Developing and Implementing the Environmental Sustainability Plan

POL-62 Alternative Water Policy

Water for Victoria

Business Strategy

Reconciliation Action Plan

Review Process

The policy will be reviewed annually or more frequently as required.

Approved by the Board on 19 September 2017

Next due for review by the Board in September 2018

Document POL-15 Rev 11 Page 2 of 2