The government’s guidelines for the water services review, known as Local Water Done Well, outline clear expectations for how councils across the country will manage water for their communities into the future.
Waikato District Council Chief Executive, Gavin Ion, outlined the priorities ahead.
“We have a duty to nurture and protect our awa, and to ensure our water networks help keep our communities healthy and safe. We need to agree on a way to manage water in the district that will benefit our residents for generations to come.”
The key things that councils across the country have been considering as they shortlist their options are not only the cost impacts on ratepayers but, also, the ability to invest in maintaining and developing the essential infrastructure.
For an area in growth-mode like Waikato District, the long-term picture must be looked at just as carefully as the short-term impacts of any changes that are made.
On Friday 13 December, Council will consider which one out of three options it will identify as the preferred option. ). The option that has been recommended by staff is to progress with the design of a joint Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO) with Hamilton City Council.
The alternative is to join with other councils in the region who have made the commitment to Waikato Water Done Well CCO. The new waters legislation also requires councils to table the ‘status quo’ option which, for Waikato District, is that of a contract with an external provider of services.
“The options in front of us are quite different in the advantages that they offer us in the long-term and it’s now up to our Councillors to consider those priorities carefully to determine what is most important for our District,” says Gavin.
The decision we are asking Councillors to make goes beyond looking at financial efficiency but also needs to consider people and capability, as well as operational effectiveness, Factors such as boundaryless planning, scale, customer experience and the big picture for the region are also influences.
“We arevery mindful of our commitment to Te Ture Whaimana, which is the vision and strategy document for the Waikato RIver established as part of the Waikato-Tainui river settlement,” says Gavin.
Details around the preferred and other options for Waikato District Council will be explained over coming weeks and included in formal public consultation in March next year.
