Waikato Water Done Well - Ōtorohanga District Council says yes to progressing a regional model

   Added 4 months ago

The vision for Waikato Water Done Well (the regional version of the government’s water direction “Local Water Done Well”) has the vision: “Te Mana o te Wai, te Mana o te Tangata” (Healthy Water, Healthy People). At their Council meeting this week (27 August 2024) Ōtorohanga District Council voted unanimously to opt in to progressing this Waikato regional model for water services delivery thus endorsing this vision for our community.

Leading this collaborative initiative is the Joint Waikato Mayors and Chairs Forum, which includes council and iwi leaders from across the region all working together towards this vision. It is proposed that the model be rolled out in stages:

Stage 1: Establishing a new entity to provide functional services to participating councils.

Stage 2: Developing a fully regulated water services entity that aligns with                        government expectations

This means that in the first stage, ŌDC will retain most of its current water operations in-house while transitioning capital work, asset management and some other functions to the new entity. Joining the initiative is non-binding. ŌDC can withdraw at any time, though ongoing investment will be required once an agreement is reached.

The first step is for the Chief Executives from the councils who opt in to draft a non-binding Heads of Agreement (HOA). Ōtorohanga District Council will consider this alongside a comparative analysis between retaining water services in-house (status quo) and proceeding to sign the HoA. This decision will be made late 2024.

"The Waikato Water Done Well initiative represents a significant opportunity for our community to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our water services, but only if this makes financial sense for Ōtorohanga. By participating in this collaborative effort, Ōtorohanga District Council aims to ensure that we not only meet but exceed the standards set by central government. This initiative is about securing a sustainable and innovative future for our water services, and I am committed to working closely with our regional partners to achieve these goals." Mayor Max Baxter, Ōtorohanga District Council.