Floods, Flames, and Resilience: Coliban Water's Bushfire Response with Damian Wells

In this episode of the Exec Exchange, host Piers Clark speaks with Damian Wells, Managing Director of Coliban Water in Australia, about how a regional water utility prepares for and responds to extreme bushfire events amid worsening climate volatility. Damian describes Coliban Water’s operational challenges of maintaining services across a large geography. The discussion covers the boom-and-bust climate pattern, how recent extremes have shifted from record floods in October 2022 to multiple failed winters and springs leading into drought by 2026, and the sector’s reliance on surface water. Damian explains how bushfires develop including ignition sources and wind changes, and recounts an early January catastrophic fire risk period with prolonged 43–48°C heat. He details Coliban Water’s 24/7 incident team operations, monitoring via the VicEmergency App and the rapid fire run through Harcourt that destroyed 54 homes and impacted businesses and rural properties. Damian highlights customer support measures including self-funded bill relief and waiving bills for customers who lost homes) along with the Coliban Assist Program. The conversation closes through Damian advising his younger self to focus on building capable, resilient, whole-of-enterprise organizations that can adapt to climate change, financial market shifts, and regulatory change.00:00 Welcome and Introductions00:23 Damian Wells Background01:34 Coliban Water Service Area02:37 Climate Extremes Context04:33 How Bushfires Unfold07:01 Detection and Early Response08:22 Harcourt Impact and Support09:46 Incident Team and Comms11:38 Restoring Water Safely12:28 Building Future Resilience14:06 Advice and Wrap Up