When it comes to Australia’s water infrastructure, reliability doesn’t happen by accident. Behind every functioning pump station, dewatering system, and treatment facility lies a network of skilled professionals and service providers who work well beyond the spotlight. For Michael Wallace, Managing Director of Southern Pumping, that’s exactly where his company belongs: on the ground, on call, and often on the road.
Based in regional Victoria but servicing clients nationwide, Southern Pumping has grown from a local business into a key support partner for utilities, contractors and major industrial sites. While its role has often gone unpublicised, the company’s influence is embedded in water infrastructure from Kalgoorlie to the coast.
Supporting water infrastructure that works
Southern Pumping was never designed to be a volume-driven sales operation. Since its founding, the business has focused on solving infrastructure problems, not simply moving products. Wallace said that a practical mindset has helped it stand out in a sector where complexity and urgency often collide.
“We’ve always prioritised service over scale,” he said. “Whether you’re supporting a regional council or a Tier 1 mine site, what matters most is getting the right outcome the first time and being available when something breaks.”
That focus on availability and outcome has shaped the company’s business model. Instead of relying on centralised warehousing or outsourced call centres, Southern Pumping operates with decentralised field service teams, product stock on hand, and direct contact between clients and technicians. It is a structure designed to meet the realities of remote infrastructure and unforgiving site conditions.
Nowhere has that responsiveness mattered more than in the water sector. Southern Pumping supports councils, utilities and treatment operators with full-system integration, from pump supply and commissioning to diagnostics and refurbishment. Wallace and his team work directly with asset managers to ensure that performance in the field matches what has been promised on paper.
“It’s one thing to select a product,” Wallace said. “It’s another to make sure it’s installed correctly, maintained properly, and still performing under pressure five years later. That’s what we’re accountable to.”
A national platform built on local knowledge
In mid-2025, Southern Pumping was named national distribution and service partner for Orbit Pumps, including the launch of the new VIGA helical rotor range. The partnership was a natural fit. Orbit required a hands-on team with technical depth and reach across sectors, while Southern Pumping sought to align with a manufacturer known for performance in demanding environments.
The VIGA series, developed by Franklin Electric’s Orbit Pumps, brings new efficiency to progressive cavity pump design. With a compact footprint, reduced power requirements and easy-maintenance rotating assemblies, it is tailored for infrastructure settings where space is limited, uptime is essential, and solids handling is non-negotiable.
“VIGA is compact, tough, and designed for real-world conditions,” Wallace said. “Its low power requirement and quick-swap rotating assemblies mean it’s not just easier to run, it’s easier to keep running.”
For councils and contractors facing increasing pressure to reduce lifecycle costs, simplify installations and deliver resilient systems, that kind of performance is more than a technical detail. It becomes a procurement decision with operational consequences.
“We’re already working with major mine sites on pump upgrades, using VIGA’s compact size and efficiency to reduce infrastructure costs while increasing throughput,” Wallace said.
But he said the real value lies in Southern Pumping’s ability to match the product to the problem. Whether retrofitting a failed installation or designing a new pump skid for a tight plant room, Wallace and his team bring a problem-solving mindset informed by field experience rather than sales targets.
Looking ahead with grounded ambition
As infrastructure investment continues across the water, mining, and municipal sectors, Wallace sees a growing need for companies that can bridge the technical and practical aspects of these sectors. He is candid about the limits of glossy marketing and vague promises in an industry defined by physical performance and long-term accountability.
“What we do isn’t glamorous,” he said. “But it matters. When we commission a system or provide emergency support, we know someone’s relying on that infrastructure, whether it’s a town that needs water pressure or a mine that needs to stay dry.”
That human element remains central to Wallace’s outlook. His team may work with pumps and drive systems, but their primary role is to ensure that the infrastructure remains operational and that communities continue to be supported. It is why Southern Pumping continues to invest in training, service coverage and direct relationships with the people who keep the sector running. Wallace believes that visibility and ownership go hand in hand.
“The more we understand the local needs, whether it’s a council’s ageing infrastructure or a site’s operational limits, the more value we can provide. And the more that trust grows,” he said.
“We’re not the biggest name. We’re okay with that. Our job is to ensure the systems we support continue to function, regardless of the conditions. That’s how we earn trust: by showing up, solving problems and making infrastructure work for the people who rely on it.”
For more information, visit southernpumping.com.au