Timeline

September to November 2025

• Collaboration agreement signed by the chief executives.
• Commercial terms sheet workshop with elected members.
• Project oversight group set up.
• New elected member induction to Local Water Done Well.
• Draft foundational documents prepared.
• Elected member workshop to present draft foundational documents.

December 2025 to February 2026

• Water Services Delivery Plan approval received (this milestone happened ahead of time. The government approved the plan in November).
•  Recruitment of board and chief executive begins.
•  Joint Shareholders' Committee established.
•  Agreement reached on foundational documents (constitution and shareholders' agreement).

March to June 2026

• Board and chief executive appointed.
• Councils ratify the foundational documents.
• Company registered.
• Banking facilities established.
• Draft transfer agreement prepared.
• Joint Shareholders' Committee agree approach to developing statement of expectations.

• Governance transfers to the board.

July to September 2026

• Loan and credit facility established for the council-controlled organisation (CCO).
• Draft interim statement of expectations prepared for shareholders.
• Policies alignment considered between councils and the CCO.
• Transfer agreement negotiated.

• Borrowing covenants for the CCO agreed with Local Government Funding Agency.

October to December 2026 

• Shareholders issue an interim statement of expectations.
• Transfer of debt agreed with councils.
• Shared services arrangements considered to support day 1 operations.
• Councils confirm which current contracts are needed on day 1.

January to March 2027

• Begin developing water services strategy and associated charging regime (due 30 June 2027).
• Staff transitional arrangements negotiated.
• Service contracts or service level agreements in place.

• Councils adopt the transfer agreement.

April to June 2027

• Project management office and project delivery capacity established within the CCO.
• Capital delivery responsibilities transferred (as agreed).
• Staff transitional arrangements confirmed.
• Water services strategy finalised.

July 2027 to June 2028

• Shareholders issue the statement of expectations.
• First half-yearly report completed (July to December 2027).
• First annual budget adopted.
• Business systems established so shared services can be withdrawn.
• Financial sustainability confirmed.
• Significance and engagement policy developed.

July 2028 to June 2029

• First assessment of the community’s access to drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater services (due 31 August 2028).
• First trade waste plan completed, if delegated by the councils (due 30 June 2029).