Council welcomes community feedback on options for water services
Published on 10 December 2024
Whanganui District Council will consult with the community early in 2025 on its preferred option to jointly deliver water services with neighbours Rangitikei and Ruapehu in the future under the government’s Local Water Done Well Policy.
Councillors voted in favour of this recommendation at their 10 December meeting after considering a report from the council’s Three Waters project group that provided information around environmental and operational benefits and financial modelling for six options.
While the council is required to choose a preferred option based on the government’s consultation requirements for Local Water Done Well, information around other options will also be provided to the community.
The preferred option is based on Whanganui, Rangitīkei and Ruapehu district councils forming a multi-council controlled organisation to deliver water services to their communities in the future.
The report stated that this option would offer several advantages, including maintaining almost the same cost to Whanganui ratepayers over a 10-year period. Additionally, it would provide greater financial resilience and distribute new costs in the future among a larger number of ratepayers.
It would also allow decision-making to be kept within the Whanganui awa catchment area, retain skilled Whanganui jobs and allow a greater focus on compliance monitoring.
Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe says the council is looking forward to community feedback through the consultation process and it was important for the community to understand that no decision will be made until the council has heard from the community.
“However, it does make sense that our preferred option for consultation is the three-council delivery model as it brings an opportunity for collaboration beyond Local Water Done Well.
“Joining up with our neighbours brings the most benefits and best equips the district to meet future challenges and continue to invest well in the medium to longer term in a way that is affordable for our ratepayers. Our Long-Term Plan consultation this year showed that investment in water infrastructure continues to be a key priority for our community, alongside affordability.”
Under the legislation (the Water Services Preliminary Arrangements Act 2024), councils are legally required to develop, adopt and submit a Water Services Delivery Plan to the government by September 2025.
Councillors considered several options, including keeping Whanganui’s water services delivery in-house, setting up a single council-controlled organisation (CCO), or a multi-council CCO with one or more neighbouring councils from across the Manawatū-Whanganui region (Rangitīkei, Ruapehu, Manawatū, Horowhenua and Tararua district councils and Palmerston North City Council).
The options were evaluated on how well they met several key objectives. These included affordability, long-term financial sustainability, and ensuring continued support for a growing and resilient district. The options were also assessed on their ability to meet consenting obligations and provide opportunities for local input, allowing communities to shape priorities that are important to them.
Whanganui District Council chief executive David Langford says one of the strengths of the three-council model was that it could take a whole-of-catchment approach to the Whanganui and Whangaehu awa.
“A single focus on water infrastructure and the better financing tools means a longer-term approach can also be taken to delivery and investment,” says David Langford.
Community consultation is currently planned for March/April 2025. Following feedback from the public, including hearing from submitters, the council will make its final decision and a Water Services Delivery Plan and Implementation Plan will be completed and adopted.
Community views are just one of the factors the council must consider. It must also show that the delivery of water services is financially sustainable and meets new regulatory standards.
If the WSDP is accepted by the government, then implementation is expected to begin in early 2026.
Whatever model is finally adopted, there will be legislative restrictions against privatisation, and regardless of the delivery arrangements, existing responsibilities, commitments and obligations under Local Government Act and Treaty settlement legislation continue to apply.
Find a link to the full report here - item 8.5 in the agenda.