Support for Hamilton-Waikato waters CCO in nearly 75% of submissions to city council

Monday, 5 May 2025

A recently installed 1.5 million litre capacity storage tank in Hamilton illustrates the big demands the region faces on the wastewater infrastructure front.

Shared Hamilton City-Waikato District water services were backed by almost three quarters of submitters to the city council.

There were 221 formal submissions on the prospect of the two councils forming a joint water services council controlled organisation (CCO).

Supporters include Waikato University and the Property Council, an industry advocacy group, the city council said.

It’s proposed the CCO would take over the management of drinking and wastewater services from 2026-27.

Stormwater would be managed by each council, under contract to the CCO.

The city council announced the numbers on Monday saying they followed community consultation.

In December last year, Hamilton councillors unanimously agreed to consult on forming the CCO with Waikato.

Hamilton City Council will hear verbal submissions from Tuesday.

The proposal was in response to Government concerns about under-investment in waters infrastructure around the country.

Successive governments have driven water reforms requiring councils to work together to create bigger organisations which can drive efficiencies and, over time, make critical waters infrastructure more affordable for ratepayers.

Hamilton put two options to its community: forming a CCO with Waikato or forming an in-house business unit and continuing to manage water itself.

However, the city council was clear the in-house business unit option was only provided because the Government required a second option be provided to the community. It was not supported by councillors.

A Monday statement from Hamilton City Council said that, of the 221 formal submissions received, 74% said forming a joint waters company was the best option for the city.

In its submission, Waikato University said a waters CCO was a “strategic move that will help address the current constraints and support the continued growth and success of Hamilton”.

The Property Council said a CCO would help ensure a consistent approach to asset management and planning. “This should result in a more resilient and flexible system.”

About 30 submitters have asked to speak to city councillors about their submission - they’ll start being heard on Tuesday.

Waikato District Council will receive feedback on its waters proposal until May 11, as part of its 2025-2034 long term plan consultation process.

Both councils will make a final decision on how to provide future water services in June this year.