The Government has accepted Taupō District Council’s Water Services Delivery Plan, which sets out how the council intends to deliver water services over the next 10 years.

The Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms required all councils to consult on at least two options for the future of their water services and then submit a Water Services Delivery Plan to the Department of Internal Affairs for approval.

The council resolved on 24 June that it would retain its water services in-house and review this in two years. Under this option council will continue to deliver water services, own all its water assets and make all water-related decisions. Following that decision, the Water Services Delivery Plan was finalised and submitted and this week Secretary for Local Government Paul James wrote to council chief executive Julie Gardyne to say the plan had been assessed and accepted. Mr James made particular acknowledgement of the level of detail and time that Taupō District Council had put into developing its plan.

Having the Water Services Delivery Plan accepted allows the council to continue planning for delivering water services to its communities in a financially sustainable way, while also meeting investment requirements and government standards for drinking and wastewater.

The plan prioritises a high level of investment into water services including water treatment plant upgrades to meet Drinking Water Standards New Zealand. It also details how council intends to improve the efficiency of the water network by preventing leaks, managing water demand and avoiding cross-network contamination, such as stormwater making its way into wastewater systems.

Council’s general manager of community infrastructure and services Tony Hale says having the plan accepted without amendment was testament to the work and planning that had gone into it.

“Preparing the plan was a team effort from across the organisation,” Mr Hale says. “The effort will continue over the next two years as we work to meet the full financial separation and economic regulation required by the water reform legislation; plus prepare our water services strategy. We’ll also continue to invest in water infrastructure to keep up with drinking and wastewater standards and district growth.”

Under every scenario for the future of water services, the cost to ratepayers is expected to rise due to new economic compliance required by the Commerce Commission; and enforcement of higher water standards by the water regulator Taumata Arowai.

The plan and the background to the Local Water Done Well reforms are available to read on the council website at taupo.govt.nz/water.

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