Ōtorohanga, Waitomo, Waipā, and Taupō district councils have backed planning for a regional water entity under the Waikato Water Done Well banner.
The regional version of the government’s water direction “Local Water Done Well” is the initiative of the Waikato mayoral forum which includes council and iwi leaders.
It is planned to establish a new entity to provide services to participating councils and develop a regulated water services entity.
In the first stage a council like Ōtorohanga would keep most of its water operations in-house while transitioning capital work, asset management and some other functions to the new entity. Unlike the previous Three Waters plan, participating councils can withdraw at any time, though ongoing investment will be required once an agreement is reached.
A non-binding heads of agreement is expected to be signed later this year by the chief executives of the joining councils.
