The Victorian Government manages water supply, treatment and security through 18 water corporations throughout the State, each with an allocated geographic region.

Maddocks advises a number of the Victorian water corporations across a range of programs, projects and operational issues. We are actively engaged in the water sector and understand the key issues, challenges and policy requirements for this essential sector. Our recent work includes:

• Property – acquisitions by agreement and compulsory acquisition, disposal of surplus land including procurement processes, major real estate redevelopment projects, leases and licences, property advisory work, easements and access rights, complex subdivisions and land use arrangements.

• Planning & Environment – advising and acting on behalf of water authorities in respect of their referral authority functions and powers under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and Victorian Planning Schemes, including representing water authorities in disputed matters at VCAT and Planning Panels Victoria.

• Construction & Projects – water treatment plants, pipelines, irrigation systems modernisation, restoration of environmental flows, meter installation programs, panel contracts for works and/or services development deeds, deferred works agreements, interface agreements, resolution of contractor claims and disputes and building regulation advice.

• Intellectual Property – protection of water corporations’ technology, IP and brands, licensing the use of innovative solutions.

• Privacy, Data and Cybersecurity – digital water metering procurement, deployment, maintenance and support, implementation of privacy compliance frameworks, policies, procedures and impact assessments.

• Contracts, Governance and Compliance – contracts for water corporations including ICT, services and funding agreements, governance and structuring advice, panel contracts for procurement, legislative compliance and advice on the Water Act.

• Commercial Disputes – acting for water corporations on a broad range of disputes including claims relating to the Water Act and Environment Protection Act, consumer law and contractual disputes. We approach disputes strategically and employ alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, where appropriate, to resolve disputes at an early stage.

• Employment – advising on enterprise agreements, workforce restructures, transfer of employees, employee entitlements, employee disciplinary issues.

• Workplace Health & Safety – providing advice on all aspects of workplace health and safety, including delivering training to staff about workplace health and safety duties and due diligence training to executive leadership teams. This includes important issues associated with contractor management safety risks and more general workplace health and safety liability risks for individuals and corporations. We also assist water authorities responding to regulatory enforcement action and ensuring they are best placed to discharge duties under workplace health and safety laws.

• FOI – advising on a range of FOI requests and issue, including processing sensitive FOI request and preparing OVIC submissions.

Our team regularly conducts bespoke training sessions for our water corporation clients and keep them updated on potential legal or policy changes that may impact their operations.