Latest news with #ThreeWaters'
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Just Five Submissions Drip In On Tasman's Water Plan
Three Waters reform dominated headlines and generated public backlash for years but now only five Tasman residents have had their say on the future of the district's water. The previous Labour Government's scrapped water policy, which would have rolled Tasman into larger regional water entities, received stiff opposition and 'Stop Three Waters' banners can still occasionally be seen across the wider region. Tasman is now undertaking the necessary work to determine how its three waters services will be delivered under the Coalition Government's replacement policy, Local Water Done Well. Consultation has been open on Tasman District Council's proposal for four weeks and closes at 4pm on Friday, but just five people have had their say, as of Monday morning. Currently, the council is looking to manage its water in an internal business unit. That approach would keep the council in control of its water infrastructure but wouldn't take advantage of the potential economies of scale that could be achieved if Tasman teamed up with its neighbours. Despite the low engagement and importance of water services, the council's group manager for community infrastructure wasn't worried and thought the 'silent majority' had given the plan the thumbs up. 'I feel as though there's been no kind of angst in the community because, essentially, council's still running it,' Richard Kirby said. Whatever option the council chooses will have a financial impact on residents when they receive their water bills in the future. A multi-council organisation with Buller and Marlborough would be the cheapest option for water users, but financial modelling of the different options showed yearly water fees would only vary by $335 after a decade and so the council opted to retain direct control. Reduced costs became more evident beyond 10 years under a combined approach, but Kirby said there are other opportunities to share services and reduce costs across the region in the future. 'We're still going to be having discussions with our neighbours.' The proposed in-house approach will place 'a bit of stress' on the council as it upgrades its systems and changes its procedures, and water will no longer be subsidised by the hundreds of thousands in dividends from Port Nelson, he added. Council's preferred approach will require Governmental approval and is expected to be implemented on 1 July 2027. Nelson City Council only received 12 responses to its own Local Water Done Well consultation.
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
It's Time To Have Your Say On Water Reform
Timaru District Council is saying it wants to work with its neighbours to deliver better water services for everyone, as it takes its local water proposal out for public consultation. The consultation, which opens today and runs until 6 June outlines the council's response to the Government's Local Water Done Well reforms and asks for the public to provide their feedback. Timaru District Mayor Nigel Bowen said that as a council they had fought hard for communities to have the opportunity to have their say on water reform, so now it was time to tell us what you think. 'This is one of the most important consultations that we'll undertake as it will have a critical and long-lasting influence on how we deliver one of our core services,' he said. 'Timaru was one of the lead campaigners against the original 'Three Waters' plan through Communities 4 Local Democracy, and we're pleased that through the Local Water Done Well policy that we are able to shape our own ideas for delivering sustainable water services that continue to be locally owned and locally controlled. 'It's been a long road in enabling you to have a say in this matter, and I'm really pleased that you're now able to. 'While Timaru District is in a good position as far as water is concerned, we face long-term challenges for affordability and ensuring that water remains a priority in the face of many other competing services. This is one of the reasons that we're proposing moving to a Council Controlled Water Services Organisation as part of this consultation. 'In this scenario, we create a professionally run council owned organisation solely focused on delivering high quality and affordable water services for urban, rural, commercial and industrial customers. One that is led by a professional board, but still owned by and accountable to the community through your elected council. 'Affordability is one of the key measures of the success of our proposal. Independent modelling has shown that in the long-term water rates will be less expensive if services come from a CCO, and even cheaper if we combine services with our neighbours. 'This efficiency, and the ability to share scarce staffing resources, is the reason that we're proposing to work with neighbouring councils on a joint company that will provide services across the Central South Island region. 'I feel that together we're a lot stronger than the sum of our parts.' The preferred option being proposed by council is joining with neighbouring councils to set up a new water services organisation. The new joint organisation would own, operate, and maintain water services for all the shareholding councils. We would own part of this organisation with the partner councils. We would also give it direction through a special 'Statement of Expectations', which the councils would develop jointly, and which the organisation would need to give effect to. Estimates of a three council CCO with Mackenzie and Waimate District Councils would see the amount people pay for water services sit at $1,670 per year by 2034. A standalone unit remaining within council would cost customers around $1,900 a year. The joint plan also has a number of other advantages including providing specialist oversight, greater capacity and better opportunities for long-term efficiency gains. 'We're not proposing selling off any assets or removing local control. This isn't a pathway to privatisation or amalgamation,' said Bowen 'Our proposal is to create a council owned organisation that will be solely focused on benefiting our community and, hopefully, our neighbours as well. 'Our councils have a history of working together well, whether that's through our existing arrangements on water through the Downlands Rural Scheme to smaller collaborations on waste, roads, liquor licencing and environmental health.' You can read a hard copy of our consultation document in today's The Courier, or online at A series of online and in person opportunities to speak about the reforms will be published shortly.
