Introduction by the Chairman
1995/96

Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis
I am pleased to introduce the first Annual Report of the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment. This report provides an overview of the work accomplished during the first year of this new, Fourth Round CRC. Much effort has gone into laying a solid foundation to ensure that the Centre progresses well in the future and meets the high expectations held by its participating organisations and other stakeholders.

Of particular note is the preparation of the Strategic Plan, which should be available soon after the scheduled Board meeting in September. The Strategic Plan was produced with the participation of a number of Board members and the Management Committee. This process was useful in clarifying objectives and identifying key issues and possible pitfalls for the early developmental years of the CRC, as well as some aspirations for the longer term. It is more than helpful to ensure that the Centre's seventeen participating organisations have a common sense of purpose from the outset.

An underlying feature of the strategies developed is the early development of active collaboration across the CRC to achieve the synergy that is central to the Commonwealth Government's objectives for the CRC Program.

The establishment of the CRC for Water Quality and Treatment is very timely for Australia. Great changes have occurred in the water industry in recent years, and more are expected. There has been a significant downsizing of the traditionally public sector-based water authorities and an increasing involvement of private sector operators. There are some concerns that there has been a significant loss of corporate memory as much of the middle management has left the water authorities.

There is also some pressure for the introduction of Australian standards for drinking water, rather than the comprehensive and very useful, but non-compulsory guidelines currently in use. It is certainly true that a tighter regulatory environment is generally a feature of the international water industry wherever a more commercial approach is applied to the delivery of water services.

In this environment it is particularly pleasing to be involved in a CRC that integrates a range of skills, facilities and interests, including the public and private sector water industry, various universities and the CSIRO. In particular, this CRC brings together for the first time in this country experienced water researchers with public health researchers. There is very little information available in Australia on the impact that water supplies may be having on community health. It is very important that we gain a better understanding of these key health-related issues so that decisions on water quality improvements can be based on a more accurate and confident assessment of the health outcomes. The cost implications of poorly based decisions could be very significant.

Health outcomes, although of prime importance, are not necessarily the only reason for improving the quality of water supplies. Water supplies of good aesthetic quality are appreciated by all, but in Australia it is not always possible to find convenient, good quality water sources. Treatment is often necessary, but not always affordable with conventional technology. The integrated programs of the CRC for Water Quality and Treatment seek to make a difference in this area by:

The benefits of high quality, affordable water supplies would not only impact on the domestic customer but would flow on to most parts of the Australian economy, including tourism, food processing, and manufacturing.

This is an appropriate and exciting time for the CRC Or Water Quality and Treatment to enter the Australian water scene. There is a need for its research, educational and technology transfer activities and I believe that we have, in our first year, established a firm basis for achieving these important objectives.

On behalf of the Board of Management, I thank the staff of the CRC for their efforts and I look forward to seeing their work develop over the coming year.