Rotorua Lakes Council has committed to working with willing neighbours to develop a joint water services CCO.

Water services will remain in-house until 2028 while options for the potential establishment of a water services CCO (council-controlled organisation) are explored, elected members have confirmed today.

Mayor Tania Tapsell says the decisions made today will give the council sufficient time to properly investigate the Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) option and to engage with the community and iwi before a final decision in three years about whether that is the most appropriate model for the district.

“We need time to take the community on the journey and to consider the potential benefits," Mayor Tapsell says.

Change to the way councils manage water, stormwater and wastewater services is required under the Government’s Local Water Done Well reform programme.

The intention in Rotorua is to maintain an in-house water services division for now and move to a Water Services CCO from July 2028. If the Council ultimately decides against a multi-council WSCCO, the fallback position will be an in-house business unit.

The decisions were made at today’s Council meeting following public consultation and a recent hearing.