This is the preferred option:

• It's the least expensive way to deliver water services and has the most benefits for communities.

• It would be jointly owned by the four councils: Central Hawke's Bay, Hastings, Napier and Wairoa.

• By working together, councils can achieve efficiencies and financial benefits. This includes buying supplies in bulk, utilising shared software and vehicles, and streamlining decision-making.

• The new water organisation would prepare a water services strategy, reviewed every three years by its joint owners, to guide its approach to water management.

• Day-to-day decisions and operations would be managed independently from other council business.

• Ownership of water assets, along with associated debt and liabilities, would transfer to the organisation, allowing councils to borrow money for other infrastructure and community projects. The indicative modelling shows that this is the least costly option, with residents expected to pay less for water services delivery compared to the other models.

• The advantages of a Regional CCO includes community affordability, access to higher levels of debt funding for water infrastructure investment and improved service provision.

• The resilience strategy would be reviewed every three years, to guide its approach to water management. Day-to-day decisions and operations would be managed independently from other council business.

• Ownership of water assets, along with associated debt and liabilities, would transfer to the organisation. That would allow councils to borrow money for other infrastructure and community projects. The indicative modelling shows that this is the least expensive option, with residents expected to pay less for water services delivery compared to the other models.

• The advantages of a Regional CCO include community affordability, access to higher levels of debt funding for water infrastructure investment and improved service provision.