Water Corporation could soon be undertaking water-related activities in Malaysia's Sarawak

31/8/99
Water Resources Minister Dr Kim Hames has signed an agreement that could see the Water Corporation undertaking water, wastewater and other water-related activities in the Malaysian State of Sarawak.
The memorandum of understanding follows a visit to Perth earlier this year by the Sarawak Chief Minister, Mr Abdul Taib Mahmud and the Deputy Chief Minister, Dr George Chan.
Dr Hames said the Water Corporation, under a previous agreement, had undertaken some work in Sarawak involving a dam design.
"It was agreed when the Sarawak delegation visited Western Australia that a new agreement should be negotiated to strengthen cooperation between the country's water agency and our Water Corporation," he said.
Dr Hames said the water industry offered a great deal of promise for on-going work between Sarawak and Western Australia.
"The Sarawak delegation in March was most impressed with the facilities and capacity of the Water Corporation across a diverse range of water-related activities," he said.
"The new agreement will help the development and exchange of information and technology between the two States and establishes a formal basis under which the Water Corporation can provide services to Sarawak, improving export earnings for WA."
The Memorandum of Understanding with Sarawak follows on the heels of Water Corporation winning a contract last month to provide competency-based training and assessment to the Northern Territory Power and Water Authority.
A few months earlier the corporation also secured a contract to provide operations and maintenance services for water and power activities on the Cocos-Keeling Islands.
"The Government is keen to see the corporation grow its revenue as much as possible away from its core business and all of these activities are further steps in that direction," Dr Hames said.
Media contact: Caroline Lacy 9424 7450.
Water Corporation: Phil Kneebone 9420 2420