Tasman District Council has acknowledged the need for consultation around Three Waters Reform as it continues to process the proposal’s implications on local infrastructure and service delivery. 

Group Manager Community Infrastructure Richard Kirby provided an update on the central government-led programme at the 12 August full council meeting - the first of two reports that the Council will be considering prior to 1 October. 

The proposal to amalgamate the water services of 67 councils nationally into four water service entities, would result in the transfer of all drinking water, wastewater and stormwater assets including all field operations from the Council to the new Water Service Entity ‘C’, which stretches between the East Coast of the North Island, Manawatū, Kāpiti and Wellington and into the top of the south. 

The southern portion of the region, which included the township of Murchison, is likely to be included in WSE D as part of the Ngāi Tahu boundary which takes in the remainder of the South Island. 

Indications are that any debt or financial reserves associated with the three waters will also be transferred. The details around how these are assessed and transferred is still to be determined.  

Opting out will result in the status quo of council retaining all the three water activities it has now. However, it will be subject to increased costs associated with meeting statutory requirements under The Water Services Act once enacted and as enforced by the government’s new water regulator Taumata Arowai. 

Kirby said staff had been working through a large amount of information to determine direct impacts to the community and infrastructure requirements. 

There was still more to dissect and he hoped to report back in September to enable council to provide more in depth feedback to the government.   

Council resolved to continue engagement with the Department of Internal Affairs and Te Tau Ihu iwi so that a more informed decision can be made at a future date. 

Once central government finalises their proposal and on its current timeline, it is still expecting Councils to decide whether they opt out by late November/early December this year. 

Questions have been raised by the public in recent weeks about the implications of the proposed reforms and the need for consultation before committing to the programme.  

“This is a government initiative and before we consider the opt-out option, should that remain available, we do need to  get answers to a significant number of questions,” Kirby said. 

Tasman Mayor Tim King said the government’s proposed reforms were complex and answers to a large number of questions remained before council can take a firm position. 

However, that should not preclude affected communities being fully informed and involved in the decision-making around this proposal. 

“Any decision of this significance will require public consultation - how that will be undertaken is still to be determined.” 

“It is clear from feedback within the community that there are a wide range of concerns that need to be addressed as part of council feedback to government. The complexity of the issues and timeframe involved make this a challenge.” 

ENDS 

For more information, refer to:
DIA's Three Waters website Better water is better for everyone - Three Waters Reform Programme(external link) 
or the Tasman District Council’s report from August 12 Meetings calendar | Tasman District Council(external link)