Forming a multi council-controlled organisation for water services is the first step to creating a unitary authority in the Waikato.
Mike Pettit
That’s the view of Waipā District Council Cambridge Ward member Mike Pettit who shared his views in a November 20 workshop on a council-controlled authority Heads of Agreement document being drawn up for the Waikato Mayoral Forum.
Waipā District Council agreed, on Tuesday, to enter into the Heads of Agreement relating to Waikato Water Done Well with other councils in the region. The motion passed unanimously and was proposed by Te Awamutu councillor Andrew Brown with mayor Susan O’Regan seconding it.
Ōtorohanga, Waitomo, Taupō, South Waikato, Matamata Piako, Hauraki and Thames-Coromandel district councils are exploring co-designing an asset-owning council-controlled organisation to manage water and wastewater. Waikato District Council and Hamilton City Council are creating their own council-controlled organisation.
“This is the start of one region, one council, one mayor, here we go” Pettit said in the workshop. “Just putting it out there. This is the seed.”
Pettit’s comments prompted laughter in the chamber from fellow councillors.
The Waikato Chamber of Commerce has been among organisations to debate the creation of a unitary authority to save ratepayers’ money.
Susan O’Regan
“Brilliant,” replied Susan O’Regan. “Mike Pettit will be the emperor of the region, right?”
Pettit, who is in his second council term after serving on Cambridge Community Board for three terms, told The News, after the meeting, he was serious.
“It’s a discussion that I think is worth having,” he said. “It’s a discussion that I have been having in other political circles. It’s not a here and now thing. This whole council-controlled organisation discussion needs to happen first. After that’s done, sometime at the end of next year, it would be good if we can get together and start a discussion on the benefits, or otherwise, of a unitary authority. There’s enough work to be done.”
Kāhu Manawa managing director Vaughan Payne, who provides management services to local government, is leading Water Done Well on behalf of the Waikato Mayoral Forum and local iwi chairs.
Payne has spent 18 months discussing establishing a council-controlled organisation with the region’s mayors.
“There are some challenges, but also so many really significant opportunities,” Payne said of council collaboration. “This is a piece of work that is pretty central to this region. It’s not easy to make waters work. It just makes sense to have local ownership.”
Clare St Pierre
The organisation would be governed by a board with delegated authority with input from a shareholders’ forum. Non tradeable shares would be apportioned by the number of connections.
“The main benefit of shares is influence,” Payne said.
Pirongia-Kakepuku Ward councillor Clare St Pierre was concerned connection was being used to apportion shares and wondered if there was a more equitable way.
Payne said the organisation needed to keep things simple.
St Pierre was also concerned that the voice of the consumer, or ratepayer, was heard and local contractors did not miss out on work.
Marcus Gower
O’Regan spoke in favour of the proposal.
“You can’t underestimate the message it sends in terms of that regional collaboration and leadership,” she said.
Te Awamutu-Kihikihi councillor Marcus Gower advised council to get communications right to ratepayers on the project.
“It does not mean cheaper water or a reduction in costs,” he said.
Water. Photo: Pixabay
