In an almost one billion dollar deal, a Waikato Times article says that Auckland’s Watercare will soon take over water services for Raglan and other parts of the Waikato District.
Auckland Council controlled organisation (CCO) Watercare will deliver Waikato District’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services from July 1.
Waikato District Council mayor Allan Sanson said the council’s contract is “bigger than Ben Hur”.
“It’s one of the biggest contracts we’ve ever signed, I’d say it’s the biggest one in the Waikato region that’s ever been signed as a supplier contract.”
The council will still own all the assets, but Watercare’s job as contractors will be to manage all the infrastructure above and below ground, Sanson said.
“We’re the first one in the country to make any moves like this in this respect to try and do things differently.”
Sanson said the contract with Watercare will deliver large financial benefits to the district, resulting in nearly $30 million of savings over a ten year period.
“We’ve got a lot of expenditure going forward over the next five years in relation to new infrastructure especially for wastewater. By having Watercare do it for us, they will outsource it and bring in contractors to do the work.”
Watercare already has a water and wastewater treatment plant in Tuakau, and has been providing services in Tuakau and Pōkeno before Franklin was separated in the Auckland super-city amalgamation.
The staff on the ground won’t change, but they may have a different badge, Sanson said.
It will not be another CCO, he said.