Waipa decision on water a lost opportunity

Mayor Andrew King has called Waipa's decision to not form a shared water company a missed opportunity. Photo / Peter Tiffany

Waipa District Council's decision not to proceed with a shared approach to water management is a lost opportunity for the region, Hamilton Mayor Andrew King said.

"Hamilton City Council has worked hard over recent years to be able to deliver the many benefits identified in a shared approach to managing water services. The proposal to establish a non-asset-owning shared waters management company was developed at the request of Waipa District Council, and endorsed by our council last year," he said.

"In December Waipa decided not to proceed with this model. They reconsidered the proposal again [last week], and have again elected not to proceed."

"Waipa District Council will not form a separate company to manage water and wastewater," it said. "Instead, council will continue to independently manage its own water operations.

"At a council meeting, elected members voted seven to six not to form a shared waters management company with Hamilton City Council."

Before last week's meeting Mayor King wrote an open letter to Waipa District Council, requesting they consider approving the original proposal. In the letter Mayor King stated further delay in establishing a shared waters management company would be robbing the region's ratepayers of the benefits this approach would bring.

"This is a lost opportunity," Mayor King said. "Central Government has clearly indicated it is looking at how waters management can be addressed on a regional or sub-regional basis. I think the message from Government is clear — come up with a solution yourselves or we will present you with one. Numerous and costly reports have identified many financial and non-financial benefits in councils working together to deliver these critical services.

"Hamilton City Council already provides a great water service to our communities and we will continue to look at how we can improve the resilience of these services in the future."