Waimakariri In-House Water Plan Approved

Thursday, 24 July 2025, 5:18 pm
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

Waimakariri’s water services structure has been given the green light.

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has given the tick of approval to the Waimakariri District Council’s water services delivery plan, which will see the council beef-up its in-house business unit in line with the Government’s Local Water Done Well legislation.

Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon said the decision was good news for the district, after the council consulted on its water services delivery plan as part of its annual plan consultation.

The council received 764 submissions on the topic, with 97 percent in support of the council’s preferred option.

Mr Gordon said the council has invested in its water infrastructure over a number of years, which meant it was not going to face the same costs for upgrades as other councils were facing.

‘‘Because of this, modelling of future costs has shown that in the first 10 years the best model for Waimakariri is an internal business unit.

‘‘This provides certainty for the community and through a business unit we retain effective control and influence, which is what is important to the community.’’

The council operates six urban drinking water schemes and five rural drinking water schemes, servicing around 21,500 urban, rural and commercial properties.

It also operates two wastewater schemes serving around 18,800 properties, and five urban and seven rural stormwater drainage areas.

Council staff said more than $100m has been invested in the district’s water infrastructure over the last 20 years.

The waters service delivery plan outlines the steps the council will make over the next 12 to 24 months to ensure the structure is aligned with the new legislation, with fully ring-fenced financials for drinking water and wastewater.

Mr Gordon said the council has established operational relationships with the Hurunui and Kaikōura councils, and remains open to expanding these shared service arrangements.

The Hurunui and Kaikōura district councils voted separately in May to form a joint water services council controlled organisation (CCO) in line with the Government’s Local Water Done Well legislation.

The two councils have now prepared a memorandum of understanding and a draft water services delivery plan which will be presented to their respective council meetings next week.

The councils have both said the door remains open to Waimakariri joining their CCO.

The Hurunui council supplies water to households in the Ashley and Loburn areas, while Waimakariri offers design and IT services to the Hurunui and Kaikōura councils’ water units when needed.

Under the legislation, councils are required to submit water services delivery plans to the DIA by September 3.

Once a plan has been approved, 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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