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At today’s full Council meeting, Hauraki District Council mayor, Toby Adams, said the way forward for drinking water and wastewater service delivery in the district needed a long-term lens.
At today’s full Council meeting, Hauraki District Council mayor, Toby Adams, said the way forward for drinking water and wastewater service delivery in the district needed a long-term lens.
“Economies of scale, affordability and sustainability were the key drivers of our decision to go with a sub-regional approach for our preferred model to take to our communities when the Local Water Done Well consultation opens tomorrow”, he said.
Council decided on two final options to present to the community for feedback being Waikato Water Done Well (preferred option) and Enhanced Status Quo. Consultation opens on Thursday 1 May – Friday 23 May. After community feedback has been considered, Council will make a final decision on which option to pursue at the June 25 Council Meeting.
“We tested the waters with five different options initially, and Waikato Water Done Well - the collaboration with up to six other Waikato Councils, kept surfacing as the most effective and efficient long-term solution for our communities”, said Mayor Toby.
Under Local Water Done Well guidelines, Council is required to present an enhanced status quo (showing how it complies with additional regulations and financial sustainability) as one of the options, along with Council’s preferred option of a sub-regional Council Controlled Organisation (CCO).
“It’s a complex discussion boiled down to two simple outcomes – do we stay with basically the status quo or do we take the sub-regional opportunity presented to us after years of hard mahi amongst Waikato councils? Our hearts say stay, our heads say we’d be short-sighted if we did”, said Mayor Toby.
Chief Executive David Speirs says there’s been a flood of information, financial data and legalities to wade through, along with considerations for how this decision will shape the future of Council and staff.
“While this can feel like turbulent times, our operational commitment and focus remains on providing a seamless water services experience for our communities and team, whichever model is chosen”, he said.
One change that will happen, regardless of what option is chosen, is that wastewater charges will move from the property rates bill to the water bill.
“We plan on having that in place by 1 July 2025, so costs associated with drinking water and wastewater services are ringfenced away from other Council activities. As the Hauraki district is already on water meters, this is an easier transition for us to make”, said Speirs.
Stormwater management will remain with Council.
Once the future water services delivery model is agreed upon, it will inform the Water Services Delivery Plan that Council must present to Government by the 3 September 2025.
Mayor Toby emphasized that “overall, we knew we had to think twenty, thirty, even fifty years ahead and not just consider what might be right for today. Now we need to know what you think.”
Council encourages everyone to dive into the consultation to learn more about the two options and have their say.
Feedback is open from Thursday 1 May – Friday 23 May.
View the Local Water Done Well Consultation at Local Water Done Well | Korero Mai I Let's Talk Hauraki including:
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In the meantime, all communication about Waikato Water Done Well will be via your council.