Latest news with #LocalGovernment(WaterServicesPreliminaryArrangements)Act2024
Scoop
04-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Consultation Underway On Proposed Model For Future Delivery Of Water Services
Press Release – Queenstown Lakes District Council QLDC Property & Infrastructure General Manager, Tony Avery said Council had carefully assessed a range of different models available, as part of central governments Local Water Done Well plan to address Aotearoa New Zealands water infrastructure … Consultation on Queenstown Lakes District Council's (QLDC) proposal to establish a Water Services Council Controlled Organisation (WSCCO) for the future delivery of water services in the district is now underway, as required by the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024 (WSPA Act). The proposal is to establish a Council Controlled Organisation specifically created to manage and deliver drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services in the future. QLDC Property & Infrastructure General Manager, Tony Avery said Council had carefully assessed a range of different models available, as part of central government's Local Water Done Well plan to address Aotearoa New Zealand's water infrastructure challenges. 'As previously shared, we wanted to ensure the model put before the public considered financial implications for consumers amongst several other factors, given the QLDC Long Term Plan (LTP) 2024-2034 is already projecting costs to increase significantly,' said Mr Avery. 'We're now encouraging residents of the Queenstown Lakes District to get involved, carefully read through the consultation document and assessments we've undertaken on the matter, and give us feedback.' The proposed WSCCO would be fully owned by QLDC, but the organisation would be governed by its own independent specialist board and management. QLDC would be the only shareholder and would appoint board members based on the skills and experience needed for proper governance of the new organisation. Intended legislation by central government would prevent any WSCCO from being privatised which means that the proposed WSCCO would remain wholly owned by QLDC, and the organisation would not be able to pay a dividend. Council would set the organisation's strategic priorities and establish measures to ensure it performs to expectations, while the Commerce Commission would use various regulatory tools to ensure water charges are fair, cost-reflective, and transparent. The other shortlisted option evaluated was for QLDC to continue to deliver water services in-house, recognising that changes would need to be made to enable Council to respond to the new regulatory environment if such a model was progressed with. An in-house model would be similarly subject to the Commerce Commission regulatory requirements. In addition to cost to households, the WSCCO and the in-house model were assessed on their ability to attract and retain staff, adapt to changing requirements, maximise value and minimise waste, effectively and efficiently manage water services, and deliver to community priorities. Mr Avery said public feedback was imperative to informing Council's decision on the best option to deliver high quality, resilient, sustainable, and reliable water services in the future. 'Drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater services all cost the ratepayer a significant amount of money, and under all scenarios, including in Council's current Long-Term Plan, water charges are projected to increase substantially,' said Mr Avery. 'I would urge all residents to take the time to understand Council's proposal and the alternative, what this would mean for the future, and to have a say before feedback closes on Sunday 29 June 2025.' A detailed consultation document on QLDC's proposed future water services delivery model and a feedback form are available online at QLDC Councillors agreed to consultation on the proposal to establish a WSCCO at the Full Council meeting on Thursday 29 May 2025.
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Proposed Model For Future Delivery Of Water Services To Go Before Council
Press Release – Queenstown Lakes District Council Queenstown Lakes District Councils (QLDC) elected members will be asked to agree to consult on a proposal to establish a Water Services Council Controlled Organisation (WSCCO). Consultation would begin Monday 2 June 2025, decision pending. A report on the proposed future water service delivery model for Queenstown Lakes District will go before Council on Thursday 29 May 2025, as required by the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024 (WSPA Act). Queenstown Lakes District Council's (QLDC) elected members will be asked to agree to consult on a proposal to establish a Water Services Council Controlled Organisation (WSCCO). Consultation would begin Monday 2 June 2025, decision pending. QLDC Property & Infrastructure General Manager, Tony Avery said as part of central government's Local Water Done Well plan to address Aotearoa New Zealand's water infrastructure challenges, Council had carefully assessed options for the future delivery of water services in Queenstown Lakes District. 'Given costs are already projected to increase significantly as outlined in the QLDC Long Term Plan (LTP) 2024-2034, we wanted to ensure the proposed model we plan to share for public consultation considered financial implications for consumers, amongst several other factors,' said Mr Avery. 'The assessments and modelling we have undertaken shows a WSCCO would provide the greatest opportunity to deliver high quality, resilient, sustainable and reliable water services and provide certainty for our communities on the provision of water services.' A WSSCO would operate as a Council Controlled Organisation specifically established to manage and deliver drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services in the district, and to own QLDC's current water assets and their associated debt and liabilities. While the proposed organisation would operate independently from Council and have its own specialist board and management, legislation specifically prevents it from being privatised or paying a dividend. Council would set the organisation's strategic priorities and establish measures to ensure it performs to expectations, while the Commerce Commission would use various regulatory tools to ensure water charges are fair, cost-reflective, and transparent. The other shortlisted option evaluated was for QLDC to continue to deliver water services in-house, recognising that changes would need to be made to enable Council to respond to the new regulatory environment if such a model was progressed with. An in-house model would be similarly subject to the Commerce Commission regulatory requirements. In addition to cost to households, the WSCCO and the in-house model were assessed on their ability to attract and retain staff, adapt to changing requirements, maximise value and minimise waste, effectively and efficiently manage water services, and deliver to community priorities. Mr Avery said Council needed to be confident that the model chosen would be capable of delivering financially sustainable water services to meet the increased financial requirements in legislation intended to be passed by central government. 'Under all scenarios, including Council's current Long-Term Plan, water charges are projected to increase substantially. The modelling undertaken shows that when compared with the in-house model, the proposed WSCCO model would initially result in higher water charges for households through to 2034, but long-term would lead to lower charges on average from 2034 to 2044,' said Mr Avery. The report recommending consultation on the proposed future water service delivery model is to go before Council on Thursday and details on the assessments carried out is available online at Given the strong public interest in Local Water Done Well and the future delivery of water services in the district, those interested are encouraged to attend the Full Council meeting being hosted at Arrowtown Community Centre, starting from 1.00pm. The venue does not have livestreaming capabilities, but a recording of the meeting will be uploaded to QLDC's Youtube channel as soon as possible after the meeting has ended.
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Proposed Model For Future Delivery Of Water Services To Go Before Council
A report on the proposed future water service delivery model for Queenstown Lakes District will go before Council on Thursday 29 May 2025, as required by the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024 (WSPA Act). Queenstown Lakes District Council's (QLDC) elected members will be asked to agree to consult on a proposal to establish a Water Services Council Controlled Organisation (WSCCO). Consultation would begin Monday 2 June 2025, decision pending. QLDC Property & Infrastructure General Manager, Tony Avery said as part of central government's Local Water Done Well plan to address Aotearoa New Zealand's water infrastructure challenges, Council had carefully assessed options for the future delivery of water services in Queenstown Lakes District. 'Given costs are already projected to increase significantly as outlined in the QLDC Long Term Plan (LTP) 2024-2034, we wanted to ensure the proposed model we plan to share for public consultation considered financial implications for consumers, amongst several other factors,' said Mr Avery. 'The assessments and modelling we have undertaken shows a WSCCO would provide the greatest opportunity to deliver high quality, resilient, sustainable and reliable water services and provide certainty for our communities on the provision of water services.' A WSSCO would operate as a Council Controlled Organisation specifically established to manage and deliver drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services in the district, and to own QLDC's current water assets and their associated debt and liabilities. While the proposed organisation would operate independently from Council and have its own specialist board and management, legislation specifically prevents it from being privatised or paying a dividend. Council would set the organisation's strategic priorities and establish measures to ensure it performs to expectations, while the Commerce Commission would use various regulatory tools to ensure water charges are fair, cost-reflective, and transparent. The other shortlisted option evaluated was for QLDC to continue to deliver water services in-house, recognising that changes would need to be made to enable Council to respond to the new regulatory environment if such a model was progressed with. An in-house model would be similarly subject to the Commerce Commission regulatory requirements. In addition to cost to households, the WSCCO and the in-house model were assessed on their ability to attract and retain staff, adapt to changing requirements, maximise value and minimise waste, effectively and efficiently manage water services, and deliver to community priorities. Mr Avery said Council needed to be confident that the model chosen would be capable of delivering financially sustainable water services to meet the increased financial requirements in legislation intended to be passed by central government. 'Under all scenarios, including Council's current Long-Term Plan, water charges are projected to increase substantially. The modelling undertaken shows that when compared with the in-house model, the proposed WSCCO model would initially result in higher water charges for households through to 2034, but long-term would lead to lower charges on average from 2034 to 2044,' said Mr Avery. The report recommending consultation on the proposed future water service delivery model is to go before Council on Thursday and details on the assessments carried out is available online at Given the strong public interest in Local Water Done Well and the future delivery of water services in the district, those interested are encouraged to attend the Full Council meeting being hosted at Arrowtown Community Centre, starting from 1.00pm. The venue does not have livestreaming capabilities, but a recording of the meeting will be uploaded to QLDC's Youtube channel as soon as possible after the meeting has ended.
