Waters options still open in Waikato District as council explores three options

Wednesday, 25 September 2024

Waikato District Council has agreed to work on designing a council controlled organisation with Hamilton City Council but says it’s ‘the only pathway available’.

Waikato District Council is keeping its fingers in three pies as it works out how best to manage its water.

Councils around the country are considering on their own versions of Local Water Done Well, a replacement for the previous government’s three waters.

Waikato District has agreed to work with Hamilton City Council on designing a council controlled organisation (CCO) - but has made it clear the council isn’t married to the idea.

Other options on the table are an independent CCO within the Waikato District Council, or continuing with the regional Waikato Waters Done Well approach.

The water situation is extra complicated for Waikato District Council after the termination of council’s contract with Watercare.

Councils all over New Zealand are having to re-look at how they manage drinking water, wastewater and stormwater.

Watercare has run the district’s water, wastewater and stormwater services since October 2019 but the contract is due to be brought to an early close in June 2026.

At a council meeting on Tuesday, it was agreed that Waikato District Council would work with Hamilton City Council to co-design a CCO, but that “participation in the co-designing of a […] [CCO] with Hamilton City Council does not bind Waikato District Council to this as the only pathway available for implementing Local Water Done Well”.

The option of a CCO with Hamilton City Council would only include two out of three waters, and exclude stormwater, which would still be managed internally by the individual councils.

Waikato District mayor Jacqui Church said that it’s important that council fully investigates all its options.

“As mayor, I am committed to fostering a spirit of collaboration and strong leadership to drive positive progress and truly get stuff done,” Church said.

Chief executive Gavin Ion, left, said progressing with all three options gives the council more choices.

“This decision of council allows us to consider key options as we ensure that our communities receive quality water services that are effective, fit for purpose and under a lens of affordability.”

It was important that the decisions made now were non-binding, Church said, as the best option has to be carefully chosen.

The council has already committed to exploring Waikato Waters Done Well, but again is not fully on board until all options have been explored.

If it went ahead, Waikato Waters Done Well would be a joint waters entity for 10 Waikato councils.

Another possible option is Waikato District Council setting up its own CCO.

Council’s chief executive Gavin Ion said how council chooses to go forward with their waters services is “one of the most important decisions Council is likely to make this year, and we want to get it right”.

“Progressing all three options will give us the reassurance that we have fully assessed these scenarios, as we work to develop a solution that will best serve our community for the long-term.

“Regardless of the option we pursue, we are committed to working with our Iwi partners and involving the community in the decision-making process.”