News

New Project Director takes reins at SMP

Tue, 30 Jun 2015 14:58:00

A new Project Director has been appointed to take the lead on the continuing the rollout of the Sunraysia Modernisation Project.

The SMP Chairman Dane Huxley has announced that after 18 months putting the SMP’s foundations in place, the Project Director Mike Walsh is moving to new work challenges and returning to Melbourne to spend more time with his family at the end of July. 
Mr Huxley said the new Project Director Frank Fisseler would take the reins at the end of June.
“We are thrilled to have someone with the credentials of Mr Fisseler,” Mr Huxley said.
“He has spent the past seven years as Executive Director of Capital Works at the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, including working alongside Mike as the Deputy Project Director in the development of the Victorian Desalination Plant. Their history, as well as the long handover period, will ensure a seamless transition.”
Mike Walsh said while he was looking forward to new challenges, the SMP had been an exciting project to bring together.
“It’s been incredibly rewarding, just because of the potential it has to make such an enormous difference to people’s lives and businesses,” he said.
“Our overriding purpose is to allow delivery of water 365-days a year to as much of the district as possible.  The project team has been fantastic in its dedication to achieving and, in fact, exceeding that goal, meaning we’re delivering much more than was originally planned.  The original proposal was for 49% of the district’s irrigation assessments to have water 365-days-a-year.  But the enhancements we have made to each of the district projects means that 66% of the district’s assessments will now have 365-day water.
“I think irrigators and the community are still coming to fully understand what great potential that offers for diversification and expansion.”
Mr Huxley thanked Mr Walsh for his great commitment to the SMP.
“His work in a challenging tendering and negotiating phase created the foundation for delivering more than twice the originally-planned outcomes for our customers.
“We look forward to continuing that focus and drive under Frank’s leadership and seeing the project through to completion by the target date of August next year.”