Gippsland Water has won an award for reporting on its yearly activities in an open, thorough and easy to understand manner.

The organisation won a bronze award in the Australasian Reporting Awards (ARA) for its 2006-07 annual report.

The result was especially exciting for Gippsland Water, which last year had completely refreshed the look and feel of its report and the process for creating it. Only a small number of hard copy reports were printed, with Gippsland Water moving towards distributing a CD version of the annual report. Both were produced by local firm Image Direct. The report is also available at www.gippswater.com.au.

Gippsland Water managing director David Mawer said the bronze award is a good achievement.

"Putting together an annual report is very time-intensive, so to have everyone's hard work recognised is pleasing. To achieve bronze level meant we were on the right track with our annual report and we are looking to improve with this year's entry," Mr Mawer said.

The feedback received from the ARA judges will be a valuable tool in improving Gippsland Water's annual reporting in the future.

"The ARA distributes awards based on the report meeting certain criteria. Our report met the bronze award criteria. There are also silver and gold awards," Mr Mawer said.

Any member of the public who would like to receive a CD copy of the upcoming 2007-08 annual report can contact Gippsland Water on 1800 066 401 to add their details to the mailing list. The report will be distributed in early November, after it has been tabled in Parliament by Minister for Water, Tim Holding.

28 July 2008