Councillors have approved an early step in establishing the board for the district’s new and controversial water services delivery model.

In a tense meeting last year, councillors were split on whether to retain water services in-house or undertake a major overhaul of water delivery by establishing a Water Services Council Controlled Organisation (WSCCO).

Former mayor Glyn Lewers used his casting vote to push through the latter - which will see water services owned by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) but run independently by a board of industry professionals.

Councillors and staff began laying the groundwork for the recruitment of those professionals yesterday (Thursday February 5), at the first full council meeting of the new year.

They resolved to appoint five elected members to oversee the appointment of the WSCCO’s establishment board.

Those elected members will undertake initial recruitment and recommend appointments for the board, which is to include up to five members who are appointed from the outset.

The WSCCO will begin ‘day one’ at the start of July next year, council staff said.

Council staff have been progressing the ‘WSCCO establishment programme’, the transition to a WSCCO, since councillors resolved to change models last year.

The decision to switch models came on the back of significant public opposition to a WSCCO, with 89 of 119 submissions asking to keep water services in-house.

Council staff said “key workstreams” underway for the establishment of the WSCCO include

incorporation activities, development of the WSCCO constitution, an interim Statement of Expectations, as well as preparation for the recruitment of the inaugural chief executive and establishment board.

PHOTO: Supplied