Murray Washington (55) left his job as Central Otago District Council infrastructure manager last week to take up a similar role with the Selwyn District Council, starting this week.
"Keeping things ticking over on a day-to-day basis is satisfying; providing those basic necessities that people often take for granted - water, wastewater, wheelie bins, those things that happen week in, week out."
All those areas, with the exception of water quality, had rated highly in annual satisfaction surveys, he said.
Water had been at the heart of the most contentious issue during his time in Central Otago.
A proponent of water metering on town water supplies, Mr Washington argued that metering would encourage water conservation. The aim was to reduce the capacity needed for upgraded drinking water supplies as it was expensive to produce treated water, but necessary to meet government drinking water standards.
Water metering became controversial, with community boards deciding on charges for excess water use in their respective wards and the amount of water allocated before excess charges applied. Those figures varied from ward to ward and the outcry from residents prompted the council to revisit the issue to come up with a fairer method of allocating water and setting charges.
The outcome - volumetric charging for water, where residents are charged on the volume they use rather than being given an allocation - would come into force next week.
Mr Washington said the topic had been the subject of "very good robust debate over a number of years".
"I think more and more ratepayers are understanding what the drivers are."
Getting the message across was a problem, and although the community could have been consulted earlier, "consultation fatigue" could be an issue for the public and ratepayers, he said.
"You have to play a long game on water demand management and not everyone agrees with you in the journey."
Those opposed to water metering never badgered him by "phoning up at all hours of the day and night to complain about it - but then again, maybe they phoned the councillors instead".
"People in Central Otago are actually very good and always courteous. Even if you are having an argument, they are fair."
Alexandra-born and bred, Mr Washington said despite the move to Crusaders country, there was no chance of him changing his allegiance from Otago to Canterbury.
"You won't see me becoming a red and black supporter."
The role with the Selwyn district was similar to his Central Otago one. He would be responsible for water, transportation, property and parks and solid waste and lead a team of about 40 people.
The district was the fastest growing in the country and he was excited about the new challenge.
"After 10 years, I think it's time for a change, which will be reinvigorating."
People moving to Selwyn from Christchurch after the earthquakes had accelerated the district's growth.
He had experience of catering for growth after being in Central Otago during a period of growth from 2002 to 2007.
Selwyn was two-thirds the area of Central Otago but with double the population.
Mr Washington and his wife Kate had strong family links to Canterbury, with two of their three children living in Christchurch, together with their two grandchildren. Mrs Washington, who worked at Dunstan High School, would follow him "when the time is right", he said.
He left with "no regrets".
"I'm a fairly positive person, so I don't dwell on the negative stuff." Mr Washington said the "sheer effort" staff had to put into the long-term plan was a challenge.
"It's important to have openness about processes, but it seems to be tougher on local authorities than on central government and the bar keeps on being raised.
"Now we've got Government saying rates have to be capped, when the community inevitably ask us to do more things. Doing that and keeping rates at a reasonable level is also challenging."
However, he believed Central Otago ratepayers got a good deal.
"When people sit back and look at the services - water, waste collection, libraries, pools and parks - I think the average rates, at around $2000, is pretty reasonable for that. Some people would spend that much on a new cellphone."
He would miss the people he worked with - "we've got a good crew" - as well as the scenery and the climate.
The Central Otago council was an experienced one, with many of the councillors having served several terms during his time working for the council.
"And I think we reflect that. It's always been a good stable, supportive council."
Mr Washington had served under two mayors, Malcolm Macpherson and Tony Lepper.
"They're two very different people, with different styles, but both have been good advocates for the district."
Mr Lepper paid tribute to the departing infrastructure manager this week, saying Mr Washington had "given 10 years of fantastic service".
Rotary was one of Mr Washington's interests. He served as president of the Alexandra club in 2004-05 and planned to continue that interest once he was settled in his new home.
