How we're protecting WA's water infrastructure
Protecting underground and above-ground assets is essential for safety and reliability. Our Protection of Assets (POA) team plays a key role in this by working closely with Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) and other utility providers to reduce risks when work happens near our infrastructure.
Why asset protection matters
When work happens near water pipelines or other critical infrastructure, damage to these assets can lead to:
- Safety hazards for workers and the public
- Costly repairs and project delays
- Service disruptions for communities
The role of our POA Team
The team oversee the Working Near Our Assets (APRA/POA) process within Water Corporation.
The work they do in checking for risks when people work near our assets helps prevent damage to our assets whilst also keeping our workers and the public safe. This important work includes:
- Reviewing risks before work begins
- Providing guidance to contractors, councils and developers
- Ensuring compliance with technical requirements
Getting approval to work near our assets
If you’re planning to work near our assets, you’ll need approval. Here’s how it works:
- Submit an application - Providing comprehensive details of the proposed work.
- Assessment - We review your plans to identify risks.
- Receive conditions of approval - Outlining what you need to do.
- Complete works safely - Following the agreed conditions.
Applications for approval to work near our assets can be submitted through our website.
Recent educational initiatives
The team have been running a series of workshops and presentations across WA focused on:
- Sharing important asset protection processes
- Educating best practices for asset protection
- Building strong relationships with councils, contractors, and engineers
Principal for Asset Protection at Water Corporation, John Mighall said these workshops are critical in ensuring those involved in large-scale projects are on the same page when it comes to asset protection.
“Early conversations are critical. Too often, we only find out about projects when work is already underway, leaving us in a reactive position. By working together from the design stage, we can avoid issues and keep everyone safe.”
“We’re actively participating in regional visits and forums to provide training and establish strong relationships with local councils, contractors, and consulting engineers,” he said.
“Early interactions with local government authorities and third-party representatives are so important.
“Far too often we hear of projects being undertaken in the proximity of our asset base where we have either little or no visibility of the tasks being undertaken, or the opportunity to assist with design advice prior to the works commencing.
“We are then forced into a reactive state to undertake repairs that could have been avoided, resulting in cost implications or delays to projects and creating additional work for our operations teams.
“By addressing safety risks during the design phase, we can prevent costly repairs and delays, ultimately benefiting everyone involved.”
Collaborating with other utilities to protect infrastructure
Water Corporation isn’t alone in facing challenges from new developments, other utilities experience similar risks to their infrastructure. To tackle these issues, our Protection of Assets (POA) team regularly collaborates with other utilities such as Western Power, ATCO Gas, and Telstra. By sharing insights and aligning our processes, we can take a unified approach to asset protection. This collaboration helps us respond more effectively and maintain the safety and integrity of essential services.
Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) also plays a key role by offering free education sessions on:
- Utility awareness
- Plan reading
- Safe work practices
They work closely with our POA team to ensure compliance with Working Near Our Assets processes and promote safety across the board.
Together, we can protect vital infrastructure, keep people safe and ensure a more efficient future for our state.