A behind-the-scenes tour of the Parallel Road water treatment plant is shaping up to be a popular feature of Waipā District Council’s Long Term Plan and Local Water Done Well consultations which kicked off last week.
Waipā staff and elected members mingle with members of the public at the Cambridge Farmers’ Market. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Registrations are open for the free event on May 31, offering residents a chance to learn more about Waipā’s water infrastructure and the district’s future water plans.
The first of the consultation sessions was held at Te Awamutu Sports last Friday before the Hautapu v Te Awamutu rugby derby at Albert Park.
Steph O’Sullivan
The following morning, council staff and elected members braved the fog at the Cambridge Farmers’ Market, where they fielded questions and gathered public feedback.
The drop in sessions is one part of the broader consultation which closes on June 9. Chief executive Steph O’Sullivan says it gives time for people to provide their feedback through a variety of methods.
The public is being asked to comment on the future of Waipā’s water services following the government’s direction that the status quo was not acceptable.
The council’s preference is a Waikato Water Done Well model with Matamata-Piako, Hauraki, Waitomo, Ōtorohanga, South Waikato and Taupō. Taupō has since said its preference is to keep water services in house and revisit the decision in 2027.
Elected members Liz Stolwyk, Clare St Pierre and Roger Gordon at the Farmers’ Market. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
“Given that we have not yet received community feedback on our separate water consultation – nor made a final decision regarding the future delivery of water services – our draft Long Term Plan has been prepared on the basis of maintaining our current in-house water service arrangements,” mayor Susan O’Regan said.
“We have invested many hours into exploring what option would best deliver safe and affordable water services for Waipā into the future. While we have identified a preferred option, we have not yet heard back from our community about this, and have yet to make a final decision,” said O’Sullivan.
Mayors Toby Adams (Hauraki), Adrienne Wilcock (Matamata-Piako), Susan O’Regan (Waipā), Max Baxter (Ōtōrohanga), John Robertson (Waitomo), Gary Petley (South Waikato) at recent Karāpiro hui for Waikato Water Done Well
The draft Long Term Plan covers a nine-year period rather than 10, because last year council opted to adopt a one-year Enhanced Annual Plan.
“It’s been a complex and challenging journey to get to where we are – a journey through the unknown in many respects,” said O’Regan.
The average rates’ increase over the nine years of the plan is 5.9 percent. The highest average increase is in the 2025/26 at 15.5 percent, dropping down to 2.3 percent in later years.
- In our May 15 edition, The News incorrectly reported that Bruce Robertson is an independent member of Waipā District Council. He is, in fact, an independent member of the council’s Audit and Risk Committee.
Elected members Philip Coles and Liz Stolwyk. Photo: Michael Jeans
