Upper Hutt mayor warns no quick fix for water woes

Tuesday, 8 October 2024

The sludge dryer at the Seaview Waste Water Treatment Plant is being upgraded in an attempt to reduce on-going odour issues. Upgrading the plant is one many challenges facing the new water entity being set up.

Upper Hutt mayor Wayne Guppy warns anyone who thinks Local Water Done Well is going to fix the Wellington region’s water woes will be hugely disappointed.

Nine councils in the region are part of a proposal to set up a new entity to replace Wellington Water. A report recommending a regional approach that includes Horowhenua and three Wairarapa councils is now with those councils.

The report said that $15 billion to $17 billion needs to be invested in water infrastructure over the next 20 to 25 years. In November 2023, Wellington Water said the region, not including Horowhenua and two of the Wairarapa councils, needed to spend $1b a year for 30 years.

Guppy said the new entity - a response to the Government’s Local Water Done Well policy - would be able to borrow more money than councils but there would be no new funding so ultimately ratepayers would still foot the bill.

“The new entity will have to borrow and generate money from you and me, the user.”

He predicted that Wellington, Upper Hutt, Hutt City, Porirua and Kāpiti councils would want to be part of a Wellington-based entity but was not sure about the other councils.

Just how difficult it would be to get all the councils to go in the same direction was made clear at last week’s meeting of the water committee, which serves the four metropolitan councils and South Wairarapa.

Wellington Water said it wanted to spend $15m to $20m on new IT. Guppy was outspoken, saying his council was not in a position to commit any more money.

Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy says his council supports being part of a new regional water entity, replacing Wellington Water.

“We just can’t go back to our ratepayers and say Wellington Water wants $6m now. The timing is just wrong.”

All councils have to outline to the Government by September 2025 their plans to deliver water. Councils can work alone or with other councils and need to decide on their approach by the end of the year.

A recent wastewater leak in Days Bay was caused by a broken pipe.

Their decision would shape the next steps for water service delivery across the region.

This work has been led by an advisory group, made up of elected members and Iwi/Māori representatives, and independently chaired by Dame Kerry Prendergast.

Prendergast said the region’s councils were committed to the process and working at pace to find the best approach to water management.

A leak on Kent Terrace. Over the last five years, Wellingtonians have got used to leaks spring up everywhere.

'Everyone in the Wellington region has directly experienced some of the issues we face with our water services, be it through old pipes bursting, summer water restrictions, or swimming spots being unsafe to swim after heavy rain.

'Our drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services need fixing - it will be expensive, and it will take ongoing effort,' she said.

She warned there was a significant backlog of infrastructure needing upgrading or replacing, which poses a significant risk to the local economy.

Everyone, she said, should get used to paying more for water as the challenges facing the new entity are large.

'There are no quick fixes. This is why it’s imperative that councils work together, despite each facing different issues. Some councils have challenges now, some have challenges to come in the future. This is a long game, and working together, at scale, gives us the best chance to turn the tide.'

New funding arrangements announced by the Government on August 8 for water organisations through the Local Government Funding Agency mean that if councils set up a new delivery organisation these will have access to additional debt funding.