Temporary staffing at Hamilton's treatment plants

14 August 2012

Temporary plant operators have been recruited from overseas to fill vacancies at Hamilton’s water and wastewater treatment plants to ensure the city’s vital services continue to operate around the clock.

The vacancies have arisen from some staff not applying for recently restructured roles as part of operational improvements being made at the wastewater treatment plant. Recruitment of permanent NZ staff is underway, and offers are likely to be made within the next month. In the meantime three experienced plant operators from the United States have been contracted to help existing staff run the plant until the permanent appointments are able to commence their new roles.

In addition discussions are also underway regarding a similar temporary arrangement for a plant management position that has been vacant for a considerable period of time with no suitable candidates applying for the position.

Commenting, City Infrastructure General Manager Chris Allen said: “We have been fortunate to find these high calibre contract staff at short notice, and who bring with them a wealth of experience and international best practice which will be of great benefit at our plants as we work to make necessary operational improvements.

“It proved to be difficult to find local experienced operators that were willing to take up a very short duration contract and we found it necessary to go further afield.

“We are well underway with our permanent recruitment of staff and I am confident our operator positions will be filled shortly, and hopeful we will also recruit locally to the harder to fill management role.”

The staff were recruited with the assistance of local company Beca which has a global operating network and specialist water and wastewater treatment plant recruitment expertise.

ENDS

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