Waikato looks north for water services
Waikato District Council is proposing a partnership with Auckland City Council-owned Watercare Services Ltd to manage the district’s water.
It’s council’s preferred option after Hamilton City and Waipa District councils dithered over similar discussions to set up a council-controlled organisation (CCO) to manage water for the three areas.
Council is consulting with the public through its Long Term Plan process, with a recommendation that Watercare be contracted to supply the district’s water services through a council-appointed waters governance board.
Watercare would manage the district’s water, wastewater and stormwater services.
‘‘If I go back in time, council had a very strong preference for an asset-owning CCO with both Waipa and Hamilton,’’ WDC chief executive Gavin Ion said.
‘‘We haven’t been able to make that work, so we have looked at alternatives and that’s opened up other opportunities for us.
‘‘Watercare already provides services to us for water and wastewater in Tuakau and Pokeno,’’ Ion said.
This is an extension arrangement, he said.
Under the arrangement, Watercare would take over the management of the plants council currently operates.
But, council would remain the owner of all the assets – pipes, etc.
Council believed it could benefit both financially and non-financially through the partnership with Watercare.
‘‘We estimate that over a 10 year period the cost to ratepayers will be $28 million less than it otherwise would have been.’’
Environmental outcomes, management of regulatory framework, contract management, asset control, asset management planning and procurement will all be better for it, Ion said.
The expertise Watercare can bring will also help sort issues like the brown water residents have been experiencing in Huntly, he said.
‘‘All of those things are really strong reasons why this is a better option for us in preparing us for the future.’’
The arrangement has also meant council can look at and bring in other key partners, such as WaikatoTainui, Ion said.
‘‘That’s a real positive because we are both committed to the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River.’’
Watercare has provided water and wastewater services to residents living in the Pokeno area, under the jurisdiction of Waikato District Council, for about eight years.
Both a water treatment plant and wastewater treatment plant are already located in Tuakau.
In a statement Watercare said its primary responsibility is to serve the people of Auckland.
Consultation on council’s Long Term Plan opened on March 14 and submissions close on April 16.
Council will make a decision before the end of June.