Water Manager Keen to Establish Partnerships

As former three waters asset manager for Queenstown Lakes District Council there should be no guesses about Garry McGraw’s role in Tararua.

The newly appointed manager of asset management and planning will be focusing on water and the environment aiming for some strategic planning and the development of partnerships with key organisations including Horizons Regional Council and community organisations.

His intention is to switch the emphasis from the “day to day operations and individual issues” to strategic planning and a district wide view on the provision of sustainable water and wastewater services in Tararua. To create “an environmentally and commercially sustainable community.”

Mr McGraw mentions “creating a roadmap which will identify all asset risks to the council and allow those risks to be prioritised to ensure that the most important are focused on first.” An example is security of water supply to Dannevirke.

A community education programme aimed at encouraging efficient water use and getting ‘buy in’ from the community is high on his ‘to do’ list.

The ‘carrot’ approach to water usage and conservation is favoured over the ‘stick’ of water metering.

Mr McGraw whose experience in his field includes eight years in Queensland working at state and regional level is looking forward to his new role.

Along with Tararua’s larger roading network and smaller population than Queenstown he notes an “awareness and readiness in the community to be involved in discussing issues.”

A long time motorsport aficionado of some 35years he holds official positions with Formula One, Indy Car, FIA Rally, Australian V8 Supercars and has both International Accreditation and New Zealand Licenses. Garry has been a Motorsport track marshal trainer and has several trips abroad planned each year.

Mr McGraw’s partner Diane will join him shortly. A very keen photographer also trained as a cutter of sapphires, Diane also has a passion for Motorsport often seen operating in Pit Lane and working with the Race Teams.