The Challenge:

Waikato Local Authority Shared Services (WLASS) is a council shared service between Hamilton City Council, Waipa District Council and Waikato District Council. The shared service delivers Smart Water Services (water education), Trade Waste advice and monitoring, and water sampling and analysis for three waters and closed landfills.

Waikato District Council (one third of the WLASS partnership) wanted to engage Watercare Services Ltd and provide an opportunity for other councils to join the partnership and benefit from existing infrastructure.

The Outcome:

To-date, six other councils have shown interest in some or all of the services provided by WLASS.

Our Involvement:

Resolve Group provided business analysis and project management services, including leading the investigation and delivery of an opportunity assessment for the integration of Waters Shared Services (WSS) with WLASS. The work covered water, stormwater and wastewater reticulation and treatment. Various options for the management of WSS (including council/private partnerships) were considered, with the final option undergoing detailed analysis. We worked with the project steering group to develop budgets for neighbouring councils so they could better understand their commitment and make a more informed decision about joining.

We are currently completing the Single Stage Business Case for providing services to at least four councils.