North Canterbury Council Approves In-House Water Plan
Article – David Hill – Local Democracy Reporter
The Waimakariri District Council has adopted its draft water services delivery plan.
Ratepayers can expect ''low cost and efficient'' water services, says Waimakariri District Council chief executive Jeff Millward.
The council approved a draft water services delivery plan at a meeting on Tuesday, June 3, as it begins work on beefing up its in-house water services business unit.
Councils are required to submit water service delivery plans with the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) by September 3 to comply with the Government's Local Water Done Well legislation.
Mr Millward said the plan is designed to demonstrate to the DIA that the ''council continues to deliver water services efficiently and at low cost to the community''.
The legislation requires councils to set out a 10-year plan for the delivery of water services, but the council will continue its practice of preparing asset management plans for 100 years and beyond, he said.
While changes are required to comply with the legislation, Mr Millward said he is confident the council is already 90 percent compliant.
''The remaining 10% will still require significant effort, particularly as the council moves to demonstrate that it meets the expectations of both the economic regulator (Commerce Commission) and the drinking water regulator (Taumata Arowai).
''This will be an ongoing test of the council's capacity to comply with new regulatory requirements.''
Mr Millward said the council already rates directly for water services, which is one of the objectives of the legislation.
But further work is required, such as accounting for cost allocations which relate to water services across all council functions.
''These arrangements must be robust and able to withstand scrutiny, as required under the new framework.''
The council is proposing to retain its existing governance arrangements, with its utilities and roading committee and audit and risk committee having oversight over different water service functions.
Mayor Dan Gordon said this could be reviewed after October's local government elections and he suggested a water services portfolio holder could be appointed.
Waimakariri has a long history of collaborating with the Hurunui and Kaikōura councils and Mr Millward said the plan leaves room for this to continue.
The Hurunui and Kaikōura councils have voted to form a joint water services council controlled organisation (CCO).
The Hurunui District Council supplies water to households in the Ashley and Loburn areas, while Waimakariri offers design and IT services to the Hurunui and Kaikōura council's water units when needed.
Future collaboration will be up to the new CCO and will require more formal arrangements to comply with the new legislation, Mr Millward said.
Mr Millward and Mr Gordon have been delegated authority to approve the final plan before it is submitted.
Once a water services delivery plan has been approved by the DIA, councils have until June 30, 2028, to demonstrate they are financially sustainable.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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