Carterton District Council [CDC] continues to work on water reforms while acknowledging the incoming government could scrap the current policy.
The council has been working with water services reform transition bodies in business-as-usual mode while the new government is formed.
The information was contained in an update report on water reform to the council by CDC infrastructure services manager Johannes Ferreira last Wednesday [25 October].
“The possible three principal parties [that are] likely to form the next government share a substantial degree of consensus in their opposition to the affordable water reforms,” Ferreira said.
Earlier this year, National Party leader Christopher Luxon was clear the party planned to scrap Labour’s affordable water reform programme – previously dubbed Three Waters.
“A National government will scrap Labour’s undemocratic and unworkable three waters model and replace it with a sustainable system that ensures drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater remain in local control,” he said.
“The sub-standard status quo where pipes are too often allowed to fail, creating pollution, wastage, and massive bills for ratepayers, will not be allowed to continue under a National government.”
Ferreira’s report to CDC last week said the council’s water reform-related work is happening against this backdrop.
“Taking this into account, management will continue to work with the National Transition Unit [NTU] … on the water services reform transition in a business-as-usual capacity until the new government issues further directives,” he said.
“We will keep the council informed of any updates.”
The Water Services Entities Amendment Act 2023 allows for the creation of 10 new water service entities and disestablished four other entities set up previously. These bodies would run water services, which up until now have been the domain of local authorities.
The start dates of various entities are staggered, with a proposed go-live of October 1, 2024 for the Wellington-Wairarapa and Tairāwhiti-Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay entities. The design team has started speaking with experts from these regions.
“There have been a number of organisational design workshops in Carterton with the Wairarapa affected parties,” Ferreira said.
The report noted an initial digital drop-in session had been held during September.
“This was a virtual forum and webinar attended by nearly 50 council staff from IT teams and transition managers.”
The drop-in sessions aimed to keep teams up to date with the latest progress and answer questions about the NTU’s digital programme. -NZLDR
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This is a urban rate payers problem we in the rural area have our own system paid by the owner NOT rate payers. 🙄
Now the chickens will come home to roost.
Nats user pays policy is about to hit home.
Watch rate increases.