Mayor commits to water meters … and more cash

Friday, 26 January 2024

OPINION: I know we’re all fed up with leaking pipes and the idea of further water restrictions. You want this fixed, I hear you.

Right now, we are in level 2 water restrictions while our water infrastructure feels the pressure of heightened use in these hotter than usual days.

To avoid further restrictions, you will be aware that we have been asking you to conserve water. So far this is working. Wellington Water anticipates that the likelihood of further restrictions will decrease if everyone keeps doing their part, so thank you.

Council already makes a significant investment in water. We are spending over $110 million this financial year on three waters. This is the second biggest spend after transport.

When water issues really started to become apparent, Council boosted our capital investment in three waters by 33% in the first year of the 2021/2031 Long Term Plan.

And, over and above that LTP funding increase, Council has topped up Wellington Water with an additional $27m operational funding in the last 3 years. This includes the additional $2m provided in December 2023, much of which has been directed at detecting and fixing leaks across the city.

It’s important we understand that the problem we face today is the product of decades underinvestment from successive local and central governments.

There is not an overnight fix. The task of replacing pipes is massive. It will take time, and billions of dollars, to turnaround. Especially when you consider how long this issue has been simmering for.

But I know Wellingtonians will not accept this as an excuse, and neither will I. That’s why I want to lay out our 3-point plan to work towards a fix.

Firstly, I’m committed to increasing water funding in our upcoming 10-year budget, the LTP. The LTP will guide councils’ budgets for the next 10 years. It is a significant piece of work and I want water to be central to this.

We are still working through the details, and all things are on the table, but I can promise that we will be investing even more over the next 10 years.

There will also be more accountability that fixes are happening, and I will be asking that there is a stronger focus on value for money.

The cost of fixing pipes has increased dramatically in the last few years. That’s why we need to ensure Wellington Water is supported to deliver new pipes and repairs as efficiently as possible.

Ratepayers are right to expect that their money is going to fix and replace as many pipes as possible for the money they are paying.

Water meters must also be part of the solution and I would like to see them rolled out in the coming years. Water meters will help us take a smarter approach to identifying leaks and reduce waste.

They are estimated to cost Wellington city about $130m and will be an adjustment for residents, which is why we first need to determine how they are best rolled out, and work through any equity issues.

I believe these three actions can make a real difference to getting on top of the current water problems. But, in the long-term it is estimated our region needs to spend $30 billion on water infrastructure.

That is simply not realistic for ratepayers to carry alone, and we will be working with other councils and central government to come up with a sustainable model for the provision of robust water infrastructure well into the future.

We’re focused as a Council on fixing this, and I want to make it crystal clear that as your mayor it is, and will remain, a top priority.

I am committed to working towards a solution with our other regional councils and central government. We all must play our part, and I will make sure Wellington City Council plays ours.

Tory Whanau is the mayor of Wellington