Working at Wannon Water – Meet Matthew
Matthew Boyle has been at Wannon Water for nine years. Starting in Civil Maintenance, he’s now a Networks Operations Officer based in Camperdown, part of the Eastern District.
Growing up around the plumbing industry, Matthew knew what he wanted to do, and after completing his apprenticeship and working privately for a local company, he wanted to try something new in 2016.
“I love that we’re responsible for providing water to so many people! It’s amazing to see the water coming out of the Otway creeks and rivers and harvesting it, sending it all the way to Warrnambool.”
Now his job has two main focuses, getting the raw water to storages and then on to the treatment plants and maintaining the flows in the pipelines and catchments. He also works with and monitors contractors for new water and sewer mains and helps assets with new projects.
Learning from others
Throughout his time at Wannon, Matthew has taken advantage of a range of development opportunities.
Perhaps the biggest development opportunity came from the WIOA Network Operators Development Program Matthew completed in 2021. He even won Victorian Network Operator of the Year!
Covering a range of topics across nine sessions throughout the year, it brought together operators from water corporations across Victoria.
“We also had a mentor from another water authority to assist with our learnings. It was fantastic to bounce ideas off and get guidance that you’re on the right track.”
Matthew recently headed to Cairns as part of the prize for winning the Victorian Network WIOA Operator of the Year to explore the similarities and differences between our ways of working.
“It was an incredible experience to sit down with their highly skilled operators and discuss characteristics and problem-solving techniques of our individual systems, as well as tour their facilities.
“They were so accommodating. I hope to implement some of the key learnings within our own service area, as well as continue to build on the new network created between our authorities.”
The impact of flexibility
Matthew’s experience with flexible starting times and a nine-day fortnight has greatly influenced his young family.
By shifting his start times by half an hour, he can take his son to daycare, easing the pressure on his partner, who travels for her teaching job.
“It seems ridiculous that half an hour could make such a huge difference. But it means I can spend the morning with my son, and we don’t need to rely on family to pick him up. It improves everyone’s day with something so simple.