Annual Reports

SA Water continues to do what it is meant to do – provide safe drinking water and dispose of sewage while meeting the high-performance standards expected of it. We do that across the state, over vast distances, and under challenging conditions.

The Corporation is owned by the state and is governed by a board of 7 directors appointed by the government. The Board has a legislated mandate but must work closely with government to help it deliver its priorities. And the people that rely on our services have expectations as well. That is the balancing act the Board has to perform.

The biggest change in our operating environment has been our shift to the new super department, the Department for Housing and Urban Development, created by government to tackle the housing crisis in South Australia.

The signal from government is that we need to accelerate the provision of critical water and sewerage infrastructure and $1.2 billion has been allocated for that task. The last year has seen the culmination of the regulatory review that occurs every 4 years.

Our operation is scrutinised by an independent regulator that sets the broad operating parameters – how much we can earn, how much we can spend, and what performance standards we are required to meet.  However, the government of the day has the final say in the prices we charge customers, how much we can spend, and the dividend we pay back to the state. With the completion of that process, our course is set for the next regulatory period, however it is worth reflecting on the challenges ahead.

Water utilities across Australia, and in comparable countries in the western world, grapple with the short and long-term demands of maintaining and replacing expensive infrastructure as it ages and wears. SA Water and the state government are mindful of this need to invest, yet at the same time balance the costs to the public for these essential services.

Transparency and openness about condition, solutions and costs are essential. The board recognises the important role it plays in working with government to ensure our long-term viability and continuing performance.

To conclude, I acknowledge the effective working relationship with government, especially Minister Champion, Minister Close, and Treasurer Mullighan. I thank the board for its collaborative and diligent operation, and recognise the particular contributions of Janet Finlay and Chris Ford, whose terms concluded in August 2024.

David Ryan and his executive have provided outstanding service, as have the staff and extended network of partners. I thank them sincerely.

Over the past 12 months, our people have achieved significant outcomes for South Australia.

Cost-of-living pressures continue to impact many of our customers, and we have been planning and preparing for the future as we move into a new 4-year regulatory period. I’m enormously proud of our people and partners for their work providing essential water services for our state.

In 2023-24, as we came to the end of a regulatory period, we accomplished a significant amount to benefit our customers and our community.

Water security remains an important part of our strategy, with our Kangaroo Island Desalination Plant hitting major milestones including submerged pipelines and completed marine works. On the Eyre Peninsula, the ongoing planning and development of our proposed desalination project continues, as we work with the community to ensure an ongoing, reliable supply of water in our drying climate.

We also finished building 2 desalination plants in regional South Australia. Oodnadatta celebrated first water in August 2023 and residents of Marla received the first drinking water from their desalination plant, which has brought the community safe and clean drinking water.

I’ve had the pleasure of seeing these new assets – and the local communities – firsthand. In the past year, I‘ve had the opportunity to visit remote communities in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands and spend some time with our people who help deliver services on the ground. Travelling from west to east, and then onto Marla and Coober Pedy, I saw how our assets and these services are enabling these remote communities to thrive.

We achieved an outstanding outcome through the regulatory determination process for 2024-28 and will deliver on these commitments as determined by the Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA). Our people have the skills, experience and expertise in both the business and through our partners to deliver for our customers. The final determination included $3.3 billion in net capital expenditure – including $1.2 billion of investment to support housing growth as directed by the state government – and $2.3 billion in operating expenditure.

Through managing the growth of our community and essential services, we also maintain our asset reliability. Much of our infrastructure can last more than 100 years and service multiple generations and we continue to renew older existing assets each year. In the past 12 months, we invested $87.5 million in our water main network and infrastructure, and another $31.6 million in our wastewater pipe network and infrastructure. Main break numbers remain low, and capital projects and major works were delivered to ensure continued access to safe and clean drinking water for our customers every day.

It is important that we continue to build a workforce that is diverse, inclusive and reflects the community we serve. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plan developed in 2023-24 sets out how we will achieve this to support improved outcomes for our people and our customers. A new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council was formed to govern this work and ensure we achieve the outcomes set in the plan. The council has representatives from across our business ensuring a collaborative and collective approach to help us shift how we interact with customers and inspire local communities and our partners.

The health and wellbeing of our people, partners, contractors and visitors remains a high priority and underpins our commitment to ensuring the safety of our people. Delivery of our Health and Safety Improvement Plan has seen us advance work on 15 critical risks and deliver important wellness checks. Our focus in this area has started important conversations in our business and keeps our people informed, supported and safe in their day-to-day tasks.

Our commitment as a participant in the United Nations Global Compact is reaffirmed as we continue to work towards delivering services and achieving positive outcomes for our community and the planet. As part of this commitment, we are a signatory to the Australian water industry’s commitment to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

We have been recognised by our industry and peers with 9 state finalists and 2 national winners in the Australian Water Association Awards, a national and state winner in the IoT (Internet of Things) Awards, and a national finalist placement in the CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement) and Supply Excellence Awards.

As we look towards the future, our work this year and over the 2020-24 regulatory period has laid a strong foundation for the next steps in our journey to support South Australia’s growth and prosperity.

As a state, we’re facing our largest housing infrastructure challenge in a generation. In the 2024-28 regulatory period, we will invest $1.2 billion to support delivery of the South Australian government’s Housing Roadmap. Working with the government and industry, we will deliver water and wastewater services to help unlock new housing in the wider Adelaide metropolitan area.

I thank our people and partners for their tireless work and continued dedication to delivering for our customers and state. Our collective efforts have seen us set a strong platform for the future, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished. Thanks also goes to the Chair of our Board, Allan Holmes, and our Board of Directors for continuing to guide our business to deliver trusted water services for a healthy and sustainable South Australia.