Growing jobs for Indigenous Australians in water metering

Minister for Resources and Water, the Hon Keith Pitt MP

New South Wales Minister for Water, Property and Housing, the Hon Melinda Pavey MP

Up to 16 Aboriginal people will be supported to undertake a paid two-year traineeship generating a skilled workforce to support accurate water metering in rural and remote New South Wales.

Minister for Resources and Water- Keith Pitt- said the traineeships would fund metering traineeships for Indigenous Australians, generating a pathway to employment in the water sector.

“The Commonwealth has provided $25 million to the Northern Murray-Darling Basin Metering Program and New South Wales is using its share to fund the initiative,” Minister Pitt said.

“The program will boost the number of certified meter installers in rural and regional NSW, helping to meet rising demand from irrigators across the state as NSW rolls out its non-urban metering rules.

“These traineeships are a double win – delivering jobs in the regions as well as a sustainable workforce.

“This is the sort of value we can deliver for communities and industries while also improving the compliance framework in the Murray-Darling Basin, in partnership with Basin states, like New South Wales.”

Minister for Water, Property and Housing- Melinda Pavey-said the traineeship program would support metering and floodplain harvesting measurement reforms in New South Wales.

“Importantly, it also is an opportunity to increase Indigenous Australians’ representation in the water management industry, and creates ongoing economic opportunities,” Minister Pavey said.

“On top of that, it provides opportunities to build cultural values and traditional water management experience into our water resource sector.

“This program is a $1 million investment that offers participants a Certificate III in Irrigation Technology along with training to become a certified meter installer and validator.

“It’s about building practical skills and includes a two-year industry placement so trainees can hone their skills and provide confidence to the community that New South Wales’ non-urban metering and floodplain harvesting measurement is robust.”

/Public Release. View in full here.