Waipā backs Waikato Water Done Well and adopts Long-term Plan
A bold and people-focused step towards better water services delivery has been confirmed, with Waipā joining Waikato Water Done Well – a new regional Council-Controlled Organisation formed with six other rural and provincial Waikato councils.
In a unanimous decision, Waipā District Council today voted to join the entity and adopted its own draft water services delivery plan. In the same meeting, Council unanimously adopted its 2025–34 Long Term Plan.
Chief Executive Steph O’Sullivan said the two decisions were closely connected.
“Water is one of the biggest infrastructure issues facing our district. By including it across all nine years of the Long Term Plan, we’ve shown the scale of investment required – and the impact it could have on our community. Even though we’ll need to amend the plan next year, it was important to be upfront,” she said.
“These are big decisions that go hand in hand. We’ve reached two massive milestones today. It’s an exciting time – for Waipā, for Waikato and for local government – to step up and deliver the change our communities need.”
O’Sullivan said it was clear from the deliberations around the table that the elected members had thoughtfully and carefully considered the complexity of water services, and had made their decisions with people, place and the environment firmly at the centre.
There was also a clear intention signalled to work closely with the sub-regional waters organisation being set up by neighbouring Hamilton City and Waikato District Councils.
“Over time, we’d all like to see one Council-controlled water service entity for the Waikato. But right now, our elected members are focused on what is best for Waipā, and the Waikato Water Done Well model is the most affordable and sustainable path forward for our communities. It fits for us as a model of collaboration of rural and provincial councils.”
An estimated average price rise of 4.6 percent across the seven councils is significantly lower than other options considered.
Waipā’s Local Water Done Well consultation ran from Friday, May 9 to Monday, June 9, in parallel with consultation on the draft Long Term Plan. Twenty public engagement events were held and 108 submissions were received on water services delivery, with seven submitters presenting at the formal hearing on Wednesday, July 2.
Under the Government’s Local Water Done Well legislation, all councils across Aotearoa New Zealand must produce a water services delivery plan by September this year, with a focus on financial sustainability and meeting quality standards.
The newly adopted 2025–34 Long Term Plan includes an average rates revenue increase of 15.5 percent for 2025/26, largely driven by inflationary pressures outside of Council’s control.
“Having taken nearly $200m of projects out of the LTP and reviewed operational expenditure with a fine-tooth comb, the LTP adoption means Council can strike the rates and give our communities assurance of continuity of service going forward,” O’Sullivan said.
“Council can now also give deep consideration to its financial situation post waters transition.”
Council today also adopted its Remission and Postponement of Rates and Water Charges Policy, Revenue and Financing Policy, Treasury Management Policy, and Development Contributions Policy.
