JOHN HOLLAND GROUP - UTILITIES DIVISION
provision of water security and reliable sanitation systems which are the key to a healthier and more prosperous future . “ Water has largely been recognised as an economic enabler , because without good water and sanitation in a country , it really limits their ability to grow their economy ,” Shepherd says .
“ Without good health in society you cannot establish industry . In our emerging water economies the health of the people within those economies is at times so desperate that their ability to generate any investment and economic activity is significantly impacted . If you consider developed economies , they have already gone through that passage of [ understanding ] the importance of water .”
The well-known Broad St pump in London has been used as an example of the impact that poor sanitation system and the effect on water quality can have of society . Dr John Snow in 1854 mapped the well as the cause of the Cholera outbreak . In contemporary terms albeit different context the Flint Michigan underscored the importance of safe and reliable water sources ,” Shepherd reflects .
As a result , water is an industry Shepherd is ‘ very passionate about ’.
“ I consider water to be a finite resource ,” he says . “ We can look at desalinisation as an alternate water source , but not all countries have access to the ocean .”
In Australia , the oceans are not something we lack access to . Perhaps that ’ s why , in terms of desalinisation , John Holland Utilities has been at the forefront of the industry in Australia , delivering two of the nation ’ s desal plants : one on the Gold Coast and another in Sydney .
“ Our first large-scale desalinisation project was the Gold Coast desalination plant , which was delivered under an alliance agreement as a collaboration between Veolia , The Gold Coast City Council and John Holland . This project was initiated in response to the millennium drought , when water storages in
126 September 2016