This month marks a historic milestone for our Council and our communities, as Waikato District Council has formally agreed to join Hamilton City Council to establish a Waters Council Controlled Organisation (CCO). This decision has been over a decade in the making, shaped by expertise from our staff, robust councillor workshops and meetings, and valuable engagement with our communities.
This signals the end of one chapter of decision-making and the beginning of a new era in how we manage and protect our water services. Establishing a Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) with Hamilton City Council is a bold step forward, one that positions us at the forefront of waters reform in Aotearoa New Zealand. It enables us to keep pace with increasingly complex regulations, deliver better value for our ratepayers, and ensure our infrastructure can meet the needs of growing communities — now and into the future.
There’s still work to do. The next stage will see a board appointed to govern the new organisation and set the direction for its operation. But today, I want to acknowledge the scale of what we’ve achieved together.
As Mayor, I am confident this is the right decision for our district — Generations to come will benefit from the work we are doing now to ensure our water is safe, secure and sustainably managed.
Ngaa mihi and kind regards,
Mayor Jacqui
