Gippsland Water has welcomed six new members to its Customer Reference Group.
The group met for the first time with its new members on 26 June.
Gippsland Water said the new members will increase the group’s diversity.
That includes stronger representation of customers experiencing vulnerability, First Nations communities, a broad range of ages and locations, different financial situations and lived experiences.
What does the Customer Reference Group do?
The Customer Reference Group provides input into Gippsland Water’s decisions, pricing and future plans.
It also helps the utility understand customer priorities and expectations across its service region.
Gippsland Water Managing Director Sarah Cumming said the group plays an important role in keeping the organisation accountable.
“The diversity of the new members will strengthen the group’s ability to ensure that customer priorities, concerns and expectations are understood in decisions, pricing and plans for the future,” Cumming said.
“They are involved in activities like designing engagement strategies and making sure we’re fair in reporting performance.”
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How often does the group meet?
The Customer Reference Group meets at least four times each year.
Members share the interests, concerns and priorities of Gippsland Water’s customers, communities and region.
For water utilities, customer advisory groups can provide a practical way to test engagement approaches, improve reporting and bring community views into long-term planning.
That role is becoming more important as utilities manage cost pressures, climate risks, infrastructure investment and affordability.
Who is in the group?
Diane Wilkinson chairs the Customer Reference Group. Other members are Robert Gaulton, Adam Tyson, Desley Grey, Liv Brewer, Tania Brown, Simon Ortega, Tony Smith, Mick Harrington, Mathias Wood, Mike Kirkness and David Elder.
Gippsland Water said the group will continue to support customer-focused decision-making across the organisation.
“The group meets at least four times per year, sharing the interests, concerns and priorities of our region and communities,” Cumming said.
