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Former SEQ Water Grid Manager chief executive Barry Dennien will have no role in the reshaped Seqwater utility. |
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| Former Seqwater chief executive Peter Borrows. |
Two senior figures closely associated with the 2011 flood crisis have left Seqwater as part of the Newman administration's shake-up of water utilities.
Peter Borrows, Seqwater chief executive, and Barry Dennien, chief of the SEQ Water Grid Manager, do not have roles in the newly merged bulk water supply entity that began operations yesterday.
"They are no longer part of our organisation," an Seqwater spokeswoman said.
They are among 70 senior executives whose jobs have been cut as part of moves designed to save taxpayers $50 million a year.
The Courier-Mail understands the job cuts alone will save about $10 million from the annual budget, with the top 10 executives jointly earning some $3 million last year.
Mr Borrows earned about $500,000 last year, including a bonus received after the floods.
He was at the helm during the 2011 floods and later defended Seqwater's handling of the crisis.
Mr Dennien was the public face of Seqwater before and during the crisis, explaining the release strategy in use at Wivenhoe Dam.
Seqwater's board has also been cleared out, with only water management expert Leith Boully retaining her seat.
Among the departures are chairman Phil Hennessy, who has been replaced by former Queensland Urban Utilities chief Noel Faulkner.
The former executives and board members could be called as witnesses in any legal action brought by flood victims.
Law firm Maurice Blackburn is poised to reveal details of analysis of the events it commissioned last year from US experts as part of plans to launch such an action.
The merger is part of a pre-election promise to cut consumers' water bills.
Acting Water Minister Andrew Mr Cripps said: "The previous complex and costly bulk water supply arrangements have been simplified to avoid duplication, cut operating costs and reduce board and executive expenses.
"SEQ's bulk water supply services have been brought together into one entity with a view to reducing the upward pressure on water prices for the benefit of Queensland families that have struggled with rising charges for several years."
Terri Benson, previously managing director of NSW electricity supply company Essential Energy, will head the new merged entity.
www.CourierMail.com.au
2.1.13
