Council seek public input on options to deliver future water services
Public consultation started today (30 April) on a proposal by the South Taranaki, Stratford and New Plymouth district councils to join a Taranaki regional water entity for delivering water and wastewater services over the next 30 plus years, as part of the Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms. For South Taranaki the alternative option is to keep water services within the South Taranaki District Council in an inhouse business unit.
Local Water Done Well (LWDW) is the Government’s plan to address New Zealand’s long-standing water infrastructure challenges which include the rising costs associated with replacing ageing infrastructure, meeting new environmental and health standards and higher consumer expectations. It replaces the previous government’s Three Waters reforms and provides local councils with the choice of how they will provide reliable and safe water services to their communities over the next 30 plus years.
Under LWDW Councils can choose to deliver water services either by themselves or with other councils as long as they meet all relevant standards, can provide the infrastructure investment required and are financially sustainable.
South Taranaki District Mayor, Phil Nixon says the Councils have been looking at several different delivery options for water services since March last year (2024), including delivering water independently, as well as working together.
“Our investigations showed that for South Taranaki a council-controlled organisation on its own was not financially sustainable, which left us with two remaining options, an STDC in-house business unit and a regional water services council-controlled organisation,” says Nixon.
“Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, but collectively we recognise that working together should be the best way to achieve the greatest efficiencies and deliver better services while meeting new legislative requirements,” he says.
“This is a complex and incredibly important decision, probably one of the biggest that we have faced in many years which is why it will be important to hear from our community on what they believe is the best long-term option.”
To find out more and ways to have your say go to your council’s website:
Stratford District Council: Water Reforms | Your Say Stratford
New Plymouth District Council:npdc.govt.nz/haveyoursay
South Taranaki District Council: www.southtaranaki.com/water
Submissions close 5pm, Friday 30 May.
