Southern Waters has appointed its first two senior leaders, marking a significant milestone in the establishment of what will be the largest multi-council water services organisation in the South Island of New Zealand.
Bruce Gemmell, a Christchurch-based director with extensive infrastructure experience, will serve as Establishment Chair, alongside Fiona Smith, who brings more than three decades of water-sector expertise from Australia as Programme Director.
Southern Waters has been created by Central Otago, Clutha and Gore district councils to deliver drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services across the three districts. The appointments follow Department of Internal Affairs approval granted in October last year, with the new entity scheduled to take over services from July 2027 under the Government’s Local Water Done Well framework.
In a joint statement, the mayors of the three shareholding councils — Central Otago District Mayor Tamah Alley, Clutha District Mayor Jock Martin and Gore District Mayor Ben Bell — said the calibre of applicants for both roles had been outstanding.
“The strong interest from across New Zealand and Australia is testament to the scale of setting up a water services company and the confidence experienced professionals have in Southern Waters as a new organisation.”
The establishment of Southern Waters follows several years of planning and consultation, as councils respond to increasing regulatory requirements, ageing infrastructure and the need for significant long-term investment to maintain safe and sustainable water services.
As Establishment Chair, Gemmell will lead governance arrangements during the formative phase of the organisation. His background includes senior executive leadership roles at Ernst & Young and KPMG, along with extensive experience advising councils and infrastructure entities across the water and energy sectors.
Smith’s appointment as Programme Director will see her lead the operational establishment of Southern Waters. Her career includes senior executive roles at WaterNSW and as acting chief executive of the Sydney Catchment Authority, where she guided the organisation through major reform and transition.
Speaking on behalf of the three councils’ chief executives, Central Otago District Council chief executive Peter Kelly said attracting someone with Smith’s depth of experience from overseas demonstrated the organisation’s credibility and future focus.
“While the Programme Director brings international experience, the focus remains firmly local, working alongside councils, staff and communities to build a water services organisation that reflects the needs and values of the southern region,” he said.
The Programme Director role is a fixed-term position leading the establishment phase of Southern Waters through to December 2027. Further senior appointments and the development of governance and operating frameworks are expected as the organisation continues to take shape.
