Council approves consolidation as fourth option in sub-regional water study

Waikato District Council will include consolidation with Watercare as a fourth option to be analysed in the sub-regional joint water study which is currently underway.

Last October, Council voted in favour of a joint study with Waipa District and Hamilton City Councils around the future management of water and wastewater services with three options considered. These included improving existing shared service arrangements between all three councils, retaining the status quo with each council running its own operations, or considering a ratepayer-owned and council-controlled water management company (CCO).

Waikato District Council also resolved to include a fourth option , investigating the possibility of expanding a current agreement with Auckland Council’s CCO Watercare Services Ltd. The cost of this review is an additional $55,000.

Chief Executive Gavin Ion says the decision to include a fourth option has always been about efficiency and considering all options available to our communities.

“This option was at the cost of, and specifically for the benefit of, the Waikato district. It was to ensure that at the conclusion of this joint study we have all options available to us and are confident Council imakes a decision which will provide the most cost efficient and effective water services to its community.”

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