The decision, made at a council meeting in Oamaru yesterday, overturns the council’s previous unanimous support for establishing a shared council-controlled organisation (CCO) with the Clutha, Central Otago and Gore District Councils under the "Southern Water Done Well" initiative.
Only Mr Kircher and Cr Jim Hopkins, Waitaki’s longest-serving councillor, voted in favour of pursuing the joint CCO model.
Mr Kircher was shocked by the turn of events.
"We’ve shared a lot of information on the various aspects of it. We were further advanced with the southern group of councils than with the South Canterbury one, and that was really due to just being far more motivated in the South, but councillors have given their reasons for their particular decisions and that’s democracy.
"Now the focus is on delivering a water services delivery plan to DIA [Department of Internal Affairs] in September and we will see what they do with that."
Public consultation across the four councils drew in over 1000 submissions, 57.5% favouring the in-house business unit model, the preferred option in Waitaki (54%) and Clutha, while only 26.7% supported the joint CCO, most popular in Gore and Central Otago.
A series of statements from Waitaki councillors at the meeting pointed to the opposition to the Southern Water Done Well concept, making it difficult listening for the mayors of the other councils involved, who sat grim-faced as one councillor after another shot down the idea of a joint CCO.
Cr Tim Blackler’s summary did not pull any punches.
"Southern Water Done Well was the last cab off the rank, no-one wants a ride on it and if we believe the consultation to be some sort of litmus test for community feelings, which I do, then the feedback was clear ... There was a resounding call to keep it local ..."
A joint statement from Central Otago District Mayor Tamah Alley, Gore District Mayor Ben Bell and Clutha District Mayor Bryan Cadogan was issued after the meeting.
"While acknowledging that councils must make decisions they feel are in the best interests of their communities, we believe a jointly owned council-controlled organisation remains the best option for water services delivery in the future.
"The government has been quite clear about its expectations for councils to work together to deliver Local Water Done Well legislation.
"Southern Water Done Well meets those expectations and sets a strategic long-term direction for delivering financially sustainable, efficient water services while retaining local control.
"When considering next steps, councils will need to be mindful of whether alternative options comply with government regulations and expectations."
The Clutha and Central Otago District Councils meet tomorrow to decide their water services delivery model, while the Gore District Council’s meeting is on Monday.
