I WRITE to pay tribute to Geoff Michell as a water infrastructure builder, as he retires from Coliban Water. The last decade has been one of great change for the Coliban system, and Geoff has overseen it as the chief executive officer and managing director.

This has included providing urban water and sewerage to small towns.

In our great city the Aqua 2000 project improved the water from shocking-tasting low quality, to world class.

The options devised for greater water security because of the worst drought ever, saw the Superpipe selected as the preferred option. It now gives us greater water security.

Dam walls were strengthened and sewerage farms redeveloped.

All of Bendigo’s waste water is now recycled, replacing precious drinking water that would otherwise be used for general purposes.

Bendigo is all the better because of these projects.

I enjoyed the times we worked together and can attest to how he gets the job done.

May I wish Geoff well for the future.

BOB CAMERON,

State Member for Bendigo West