Photo: RNZ / Jean Bell
Thames Coromandel District Council has been "left at the altar", after a three-way deal for a new water entity fell apart at the 11th hour.
Thames Coromandel deputy mayor Terry Walker told Morning Report being part of the new entity was the preferred option, and called for the government or a facilitator to step in.
The deadline was Wednesday for councils to submit their water service delivery plans for Local Water Done Well, and a last-minute collapse of a joint plan between Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty and Thames Coromandel councils saw Thames shunted from the deal.
"It points to our ratepayers having the best deal," Walker said, "so we're really asking the government or the Crown through a facilitator to come in and see if they can help us out."
He explained it was unresolved iwi matters with Western Bay of Plenty preventing them being part of the plan.
"Past grievances over not water, but other issues between two iwi in the different councils, Western Bays and TCDC, have caused them to rise up and say they're not happy with the current water deal, because they want to resolve this other issue."
He said the issue was resolvable - they just needed to get people round the table.
The Waikato Times reported Western Bay of Plenty District mayor James Denyer said in a statement: "This decision wasn't made lightly."
"It's clear from the kōrero we've had with our community, iwi and hapū that a focused partnership with Tauranga [City] is the most appropriate way forward," and they "greatly value the hard work and good faith Thames Coromandel has put into this process", he said.
Mayor Mahé Drysdale told the Waikato Times after "a request from the Western Bay of Plenty District Council for help and certainty ... a majority of councillors voted to help out our neighbour and deliver certainty to both staff and our potential partners".
But he said the door had been left open for Thames Coromandel to join in future.
Minister happy with 'unprecedented consolidation' shown in plans
Simon Watts Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Minister for Local Government Simon Watts told Morning Report he was pleased with the number of councils which had chosen to band together and form new water entities.
About two thirds had chosen to create council controlled organisations while a third had chosen to keep water services in-house.
"In the context of where we've come from to where we are now, I see this as a success and that consolidation, that increased and improved governance, the economic regulation, is going to all drive towards efficiencies."
He said they would be working through those plans in the coming months.
