Masterton District Council (MDC) has voted to progress work on the Wairarapa Tararua water services delivery model, under the Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms.

This will include entering into a Commitment Agreement with South Wairarapa, Carterton, and Tararua district councils and developing a Water Services Delivery Plan covering all four districts.

This proposal was the subject of consultation carried out in February- April.

The Council resolution on 21 May also required and foundation principles to be carried forward into the plan and foundation documents, that will include:

• non-standardisation of pricing and debt (across the combined districts)
• share allocation (in a new council-controlled organisation (CCO) responsible for water)
• decision-making (how this would be carried out in a new CCO).

The resolution also noted there would be two further opportunities to exit the arrangement and submit a Masterton-only water services delivery plan to the Department of Internal Affairs by the 3 September deadline.

Work on a Masterton-only water services delivery plan will continue in parallel with work on the Wairarapa Tararua plan.

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