Latest news with #LocalWaterDoneWell
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
'We are not a shop': Council hits back at critics
The Waimakariri District Council adopted its 2025/26 plan on Tuesday. Photo: David Hill / North Canterbury News Waimakariri councillors have taken aim at online critics, as they locked in an average rates rise of 4.98%. ''We are not a shop,'' councillor Tim Fulton said. ''We can turn down the lights, but the obligation to our community doesn't change.'' The Waimakariri District Council adopted its annual plan at a meeting today, with the backing of Mayor Dan Gordon and nine councillors. During the meeting, councillors took aim at comments online that said the council needed to rein in its spending and be run more like a business. Cr Joan Ward said the council provides a variety of services, including roading, infrastructure, pools and libraries. ''We are not a business. When you compare what we offer with your power bill, so much is received for the community for much the same expense.'' The Waimakariri district is continuing to support growth. Photo: Waimakariri District Council In moving the motion to adopt the annual plan, Deputy Mayor Neville Atkinson said transparency has become ''a buzz word''. Power bills have gone up an average 11% this year and insurance an average 22%, compared to the council's 4.98% rate rise, he said. ''I don't know any business which is as transparent as a government agency like us.'' Councillor Paul Williams, who has been critical of council spending, abstained from the annual plan vote and didn't comment during the debate. The annual plan consultation received 787 submissions, with the bulk on the council's proposed waters services model, designed to meet the requirements of the Government's Local Water Done Well legislation. A water services delivery plan has since been prepared for a beefed-up internal business unit to manage water services, after 97% of submissions backed the proposal. The council plans to spend nearly $90m on capital projects over the next 12 months to support the ongoing growth. During the meeting, Mayor Dan Gordon paid tribute to Mr Atkinson, who plans to retire at the election. ''I could not have asked for a more loyal deputy behind me. I've had someone who gives extraordinary advice and support.'' ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
6 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Ohakune Water Plant Highlights Need For Affordable Water Solutions
Touring the new Ohakune Water Treatment Plant (WTP) with other elected members Mayor Kirton reflected on its $10.4 million cost and Council's impending decision on how to provide future water services under the Government's Local Water Done Well (LWDW) reforms. LWDW requires all councils to decide how they will continue to deliver safe, reliable water services sustainably into the future - either alone or in partnership with other councils. Mayor Kirton said the new plant was funded in part through the Government's Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF) which was created to help smaller councils like Ruapehu manage the pressures of increasing visitor numbers. 'Funding support through the TIF was critical in getting this much needed project underway' he said. 'It helped address the gap left by our small ratepayer base and supported our efforts to ensure sustainable visitor growth. Unfortunately, the TIF and similar funding mechanisms are no longer available, making future upgrades much harder to afford.' He said the rising cost of delivering water infrastructure is a key issue as Council considers who to partner with to deliver future water services. Advertisement - scroll to continue reading "Construction of the plant was impacted by the COVID19 shutdowns and the massive infrastructure inflation that followed that saw water systems increase by over 28% and the final build cost increase significantly. 'We're now being asked to do more with less. The Government is encouraging smaller, rural councils like ours to work together to achieve affordability and long-term sustainability of water delivery. The most cost-effective option on the table is a five-council Water Services Council-Controlled Organisation with Palmerston North, Horowhenua, Rangitīkei, and hopefully Whanganui. We're currently asking our communities what they think about this option.' Mayor Kirton urged people to take a moment to complete the short survey on Council's website. 'This is about ensuring safe, affordable water services for the future.
Scoop
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Role Of Council On Agenda At Candidate Information Webinar
The roles, responsibilities and regulations of regional council are on the agenda next week, as people thinking about standing in the upcoming local body elections are invited to attend Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Candidate Information Webinar. The webinar is being held on Wednesday 18 June at 6pm and will cover off everything a prospective candidate may need to know – from what it means to stand, to what rules surround the campaign period and (most importantly) what it means to be a regional councillor. Outgoing Regional Council Chair Doug Leeder, who recently announced that he will not be standing for re-election, says attending the webinar is a no-brainer for anyone who has currently been sitting on the fence about putting their name forward. 'Regional Government is hugely important at this time, when there is so much happening in the sector,' he says. 'With Resource Management Act reforms, Local Government Reforms, Local Water Done Well in train and huge pressure to keep rates affordable, we need strong candidates to stand for Regional Council, it's important for candidates to know the role of regional councils and how they might contribute.' He says from public transport to environmental compliance to flood protection and emergency management, the regional council's work is critical for the economy, the environment and the community and now's the perfect time for people to start asking questions, if they're looking to get their nomination in next month. 'For the Regional Council to truly reflect those it represents, we need a cross section of people to put their names forward. Don't be afraid of what you do or don't bring to the role. 'Governance experience is well and good, but most importantly people need to come into the role prepared to learn about all the functions of a regional council. We provide critical public services and infrastructure and have annual turn-over to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. We need multi-disciplined people with a wide range of experiences and skills, who are prepared to represent the whole Bay of Plenty region.' The upcoming local body elections are being held on Saturday 11 October 2025. To register for the webinar or to find out more about the upcoming elections, visit Key election dates:
Scoop
12-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Tasman Goes In-House For Local Water Done Well Implementation
Tasman's future management of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services has taken a step forward, with Tasman District Council unanimously opting for an in-house business unit structure to implement requirements of the Government's Local Water Done Well programme. This unit would be managed separately from other Council operations in a ringfenced capacity. While still part of the Council, it would be independently monitored to ensure high environmental and customer standards, as set by Taumata Arowai. The Council has also agreed in principle to establish an internal advisory committee with the option of external members to help provide operational oversight of three waters activities and provide advice to the Council. A report will be provided to the Council that includes options for membership, terms of reference and associated costs. Further to this, the Mayor and Councillors have expressed a desire for staff to continue discussions with other councils regarding options for greater alignment of services, information and procurement to increase efficiency savings across the Council's water, wastewater and stormwater functions. Local Water Done Well is intended to ensure people pay cost-reflective prices for water services, that those services are delivered to an acceptable quality, and that water services providers are investing sufficiently in infrastructure. The Council was obliged to consider and consult on new water service delivery options as part of the LWDW programme. On 27 March 2025, the Council confirmed public consultation on three options for future governance and management of Water, Wastewater and Stormwater. We received 16 submissions during the public consultation period between 22 April - 23 May 2025 Two options involving setting up a Water Council Controlled Organisation (CCO), each governed by an independent board, were also considered alongside the in-house proposal. Other governance options – such as trust models like those used in the electricity sector – have been considered by Council but are not being pursued. In the short to medium term, all options deliver similar financial outcomes. The structure and scope of the new business unit is yet to be finalized. However, it was acknowledged that an in-house unit operating within its agreed parameters allowed better opportunities for community involvement, as opposed to a CCO. The next steps in the process require a Water Service Delivery Plan to be completed and submitted to Department of Internal Affairs by 3 September, 2025. The WSDP will then be shared with the Commerce Commission, with a view towards the Water Service Delivery Plan being approved and ready for implementation by November 2025. It is intended that the internal business unit will formally function from 1 July 2027 to align with the next Long-Term Plan in 2027/2037.
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Marlborough Residents Speak Against Council's Preferred Water Plan
Residents have spoken against the Marlborough District Council's preferred water services model at a Local Water Done Well hearing on Monday. The Government requires councils to choose from five water service delivery options a modified status quo (an in-house council department), a single council-controlled organisation, a multi-council-controlled organisation, and two types of trusts. The Marlborough District Council's preferred option is to create a standalone Water Services Organisation owned and controlled by the council. The council said it would find greater efficiencies to deliver better service at a lower cost, and have more borrowing capacity to maintain and improve the region's water infrastructure. But Marlborough residents aren't convinced. Of about 45 submissions made, 58 percent wanted to keep water services in-house, compared to 13 percent who preferred the standalone organisation. The remainder did not indicate a preference. Five people spoke on their submissions at a hearing in the council chamber on Monday, and they were all opposed to a standalone organisation. Brendan Kearney, who used to be chief financial officer of a council-controlled organisation in Canterbury, said there was no proof that a separate organisation would be more efficient, and setting up and funding a separate entity could cost ratepayers more. It would "inevitably duplicate some overhead costs", Kearney said. He said he saw no reason for water services to be removed from a council that had maintained its water systems relatively well. "[Water] assets are in good or very good condition. That's a credit to the current council and past councils as well. Council also has low debt relative to its peers. "This is compelling evidence, in my view, that the council has performed well and will continue to do so." To create a separate organisation, Kearney said the council would need to appoint directors, manage a new relationship with the organisation, and manage the organisation's own agenda. "A standalone company is no guarantee of good governance." Kearney said there also needed to be balance in who footed the water infrastructure bill between the ratepayers of today and of tomorrow. "It's unfair to gift hundreds of millions of dollars ... to the next generations completely debt free. That means the past generations paid too much. "On the other hand, it's unfair to get those assets, billions of dollars of assets, fully debt funded ... it's unfair on future generations. "Something in between those two extremes needs to happen." Submitter Lauchy Hynd said that creating a separate organisation to take on debt outside the council books was not sustainable. "What happens when we default?" Hynd said. "We're leveraging [water assets] by three to five times to borrow money against them. "This looks to me like Three Waters from the back door. "You can kick the can down the road and borrow recklessly, but I appeal to you to act boldly on behalf of the people." Submitters also voiced concerns about allowing an unelected and "unaccountable" organisation to take control of water services. "How do we maintain the ownership and the status of [water] assets in the hands of the people of Marlborough, when we're divesting them to an unelected group?" Hynd said. Submitter Bob Watson said he was worried about the potential to more easily privatise a separate organisation, pointing how the United Kingdom's water management became privatised. Ten regional water authorities were formed in 1974, which the UK government then sold to the private sector in 1989. "I think that the potential for private ownership ... basically our water utilities to be sold off to another entity, and for us to lose the democratic voice, would be terrible," Watson said. "I like the idea that [we're] here with people that have represented the community who can speak for us." The coalition Government had previously said that privatisation of water services was not on the table. The council would make its final decision on water services delivery on June 26, and submit its plan to the Government for approval by 3 September . LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
