Councils firm up partners for Local Water Done Well

Friday, 13 December 2024

Most councils in the Manawatū-Whanganui region have narrowed down what neighbours they want to work with to deliver water services.

Councils across the country have been deciding what nearby councils to join with for the Government’s Local Water Done Well scheme, which would decide the future of water infrastructure.

Some groups have formed across the region, although some councils were yet to finalise who they would work with and would consult the public about it.

There was likely to be a group with Manawatū, Horowhenua, Palmerston North and Kāpiti Coast councils, and one for Rangitīkei, Whanganui and Ruapehu councils, while Tararua would join councils in Wairarapa.

A Manawatū-Whanganui regional water services council-controlled organisation for councils across the region had been floated, but some councils withdrew.

The Palmerston North City Council would consult the public next year on three options: an in-house business model similar to what it was now but it was unlikely to meet financial sustainability requirements; the preferred option of a multi-council owned organisation with Horowhenua, Manawatū and Kāpiti Coast councils; and a multi-council organisation with councils in the Manawatū-Whanganui region.

The Tararua District Council voted on Wednesday to not work with the remaining councils in the Manawatū-Whanganui group and instead consult on joining the Wairarapa plus Tararua joint water services scheme.

The other councils were Masterton, Carterton and South Wairarapa.

Tararua District councillor Scott Gilmore said the status quo was not an option and going it alone would be tough.

There was also a risk in going with the “fragmenting” Manawatū-Whanganui group, he said.

“Even if we chose to go with that model we don’t know what that would likely look like at the end. The risk is we could end up being left alone, which I wouldn't want to see.”

He said Tararua and the Wairarapa councils were of a similar size and faced similar challenges.

“The safest option for us and our ratepayers would be going with the Wairarapa plus Tararua model.”

Deputy mayor Erana Peeti-Webber said Tararua was better aligned with Wairarapa, sharing iwi and a coastline. She wasn’t confident they would have worked well with city counterparts.

Rangitīkei councillors confirmed on Thursday their preference was to establish a sub-regional water services council-controlled organisation with Whanganui and Ruapehu councils.

Whanganui would consult with the community early next year on its preferred option to jointly deliver water services with Rangitīkei and Ruapehu.

The Horowhenua District Council last month voted to put forward three options for public consultation: the preferred option of a joint water services arrangement with Kāpiti Coast; maintaining the status quo of the model being delivered by the council; and a multi-council joint water services arrangement with Manawatū, Palmerston North and Kāpiti Coast councils.

Horowhenua had decided to leave both the Wellington region and Manawatū-Whanganui regional joint water services delivery plans.

The Manawatū District Council last month voted to discontinue work on the Manawatu-Whanganui plan, but this did not eliminate the possibility of smaller models with neighbouring councils.

Manawatū would consider financial viability, governance structure, iwi relations and the potential for a council-controlled organisation when looking at further options.

The council would assess further options at a meeting next week and discuss the preferred option to go to public consultation.