McGowan Government brings more roles in-house at Water Corporation

• 30 permanent metering services roles being created and insourced at Water Corporation
• Job security, upskilling and enhanced career path opportunities for meter readers
• Around 4.5 million visits to metro properties each year
• Follows 420 outsourced roles returning to the public utility last year

Water Minister Dave Kelly today announced that the McGowan Government would be bringing a further 30 roles in-house at Water Corporation, following the successful transfer last year of 420 employees from the private sector.

In phase one, half the team responsible for reading water meters within the Perth metropolitan area will be insourced in 2021 taking up new, full-time permanent positions, as Water Corporation upskills the roles to prepare for the transition to digital metering.

The field-based team makes close to 4.5 million visits to properties within the metro area each year. Water meters are read every eight weeks to ensure customers are accurately billed for their water use.

The current outsourced model relies upon casual staff being paid on a per-meter-read basis. The new insourced model will provide greater security of employment, address safety concerns and allow the Corporation to attract suitably skilled staff as required to digital metering.

Insourcing of meter reader and associated administration roles is expected to commence in March 2021.

Last year, 402 staff from two private alliances transitioned into Water Corporation's operations group, in addition to 18 previously outsourced positions within its operational technology team.

Comments attributed to Water Minister Dave Kelly:

"As the State continues its strong recovery from COVID-19, the McGowan Government is demonstrating its commitment to creating secure, permanent jobs by bringing these important roles in-house.

"For many customers, the meter readers are the public face of Water Corporation, visiting around 17,500 properties a day in the Perth metro area.

"By upskilling these roles and developing a talent pipeline into the organisation, it will help enhance the customer experience, while building Water Corporation's capability as it transitions to digital metering."

Minister's office - 6552 6100