How should Hamilton provide water services in the future?
Monday, 24 March 2025
The city is seeking public feedback on the best way forward managing water, despite all councillors favouring a joint operation with Waikato District.
Their preferred option is a joint council-controlled organisation – to build and manage water infrastructure - with the Waikato District Council who also support this option and will begin consultation next month.
Background to the proposal is outlined in public consultation material released on Monday in print and online, the city council said in a statement. More than 700 people, who have already indicated an interest, will be contacted personally and invited to make comment.
“All councils, including Hamilton City Council, are being asked to consider different ways to provide drinking water, and manage wastewater and stormwater,” the consultation document says. “Councils are being strongly encouraged to join with neighbours to create scale and efficiencies so that, over time, cost increases are minimised.”
The document also contains information on forming an in-house business unit with council continuing to manage water services.
“This option is provided in order to meet a government requirement that all councils provide their communities with a second option to consider. This option is not supported by council.”
Mayor Paula Southgate said in a statement that fundamental change was the only way for Hamilton to meet the enormous challenges the city faces in building expensive water infrastructure in a timely and fairer way.
“In Hamilton we are better off than many other councils, but we face some very big challenges. We have very, very carefully considered the options and all councillors believe this is the best way forward,” Southgate said.
On Saturday, April 5, as part of consultation activities, council is holding tours of the Waiora water treatment plant.
Drop-in sessions to provide more information will be also held on Wednesday, April 2, 10am-12noon at the central library in Garden Place, and on Thursday, April 10, 5pm-7pm at the Chartwell library.
More information can be found here.
Feedback closes on Sunday, April 27, with a decision on whether or not to form a CCO made in June this year.