Board Members Sought For New Water Unit

Advertisements calling for applications will appear in newspapers from this weekend. Applicants are expected to have experience operating at Board or Chief Executive level in similar organisations.

Appointing two board members to sit alongside representatives from Wellington and Hutt City Councils is the next step in establishing a new joint water management unit for the two cities. These independent directors will join two councillors appointed from each Council.

"This is an exciting opportunity for the region and one that I am sure many people are following closely to see that it delivers the benefits that were promised.

"I emphasise that all assets remain in council ownership and each council will continue to specify service levels and set water policies and charges. No staff will be made redundant."

Mayor Terris says managing the two cities' water services co-operatively will create economies of scale through minimising duplication. The new unit will create efficiencies that can't be realised by individual Councils.

"All these things add up to cost savings that will reduce pressure on rates."

Last week both councils agreed to establish a joint Council Controlled Trading Organisation in the form of a company. The company will have a six-member board with two representatives from each council and two independent members.

The decision to establish a Council Controlled Trading Organisation follows public consultation last year showing that people in Wellington and Hutt City support integrating management of the two cities' water services, and is in line with the requirements of the new Local Government Act 2002.

Integrating management of water services will result in savings for both councils of $4.175 million over five years and $1.6 million each year after that. There will be some additional costs in the first year to cover set up of the company, which is due to be established by 1 July 2003.

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