RAAFA Merriwa Estate

RAAFA’s retirement village has 240 two and three-bedroom units and a 110-bed residential care centre located in Merriwa, 15 minutes north of Joondalup. As the estate is ageing, we have ongoing programs to replace fixtures and fittings with the best WELS rated products. 

During 2022/23, we fully refurbished 32 units with new kitchens, bathrooms and laundries. The new fittings and fixtures use far less water than the original ones. Main outside taps are checked and refitted, while second scheme side taps are removed. Energy and water savings have been made by replacing old evaporative air conditioners with reverse cycle split systems. Storage hot water systems are being replaced with instantaneous units.

Solutions

To progress towards our net zero strategy, we reviewed our existing data on waste reduction, recycling and water management to establish our baseline. We’re now collecting two years of data on emissions’ sources.

Representatives from across the business are involved in water management. We carefully review the data logger reports and if we notice any anomalies, a leak detection audit is carried out. When a leak is detected, a plumber or irrigation contractor is called out to investigate and repair as soon as possible. Our preferred contractors are quick to site and respond to any questions for advice that staff may have.

We invested heavily in two new bores in 2020 to reduce our reliance on scheme water. The grounds are now irrigated by higher quality bore water. Garden watering roster days are displayed on the in-house TV channel.

A tapping band replacement program has resulted in reduced water leaks and improved water consumption. The bands are crucial for ensuring a good connection between pipes and reduces the risk of leaks. 

"We're proud to be the winner of the 2024 Waterwise Business Platinum award. Water savings takes a team effort. We would like to thank everyone involved in this achievement, including our wonderful staff, residents and contractors," Karen Huyton, Estate Manager at RAAFA Merriwa Estate said. 

"Without us all working together and residents reporting leaks out of hours, this may not have been achieved. Being more water efficient is something we take very seriously, and we plan to continue this water efficiency journey."

Small but consistent actions have resulted in a reduction in water consumption for 2022/23.

How we did it

We've been working with all our estates to install water isolation valves and sub-meters in various locations to mitigate water loss. We have replaced old assets and select 5-star energy rating where practicable and have installed water efficient toilets and taps.

Our water savings couldn't be achieved without the dedication of staff and residents. We have trained staff and residents to look for and report water leaks so they can be repaired as quickly as possible. Residents have been advised that they can use their 24/7 emergency panel to notify of any emergency grounds or maintenance issues such as a burst pipe.

Over the past 12 months more residents have used this service outside business hours.

What we're doing now

All new residents to RAAFA Merriwa are trained in how to report leaks in their unit or shared spaces. We continue to work closely with plumbing and irrigation contractors who provide a valuable education role to our facilities and ground staff.