Councils mull water plans

Councils within Greater Christchurch are still a long way off figuring out the future of their water services, despite Auckland already achieving a solution.

The Government has scrapped its predecessor’s water reforms in favour of a new plan that will allow councils to form their own council-controlled organisations (CCO), possibly with other councils.

However, the Christchurch City Council and Waimakariri and Selwyn district councils have yet to release any details on their plans.

On May 5, the Government, alongside Auckland mayor Wayne Brown, announced a solution to a 25% increase in the region’s water rates. The Government agreed to pass a law that would financially separate Watercare, a council-controlled organisation, from Auckland Council. The move allows Watercare to borrow more, reducing the rates impact on residents.

However, the situation is different in Greater Christchurch because, as Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon pointed out, Auckland already has a CCO in place running the region’s water supply – Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn do not. Gordon said he believed a similar deal could be put in place for Canterbury or North Canterbury, but it was still early in the process.

“We’re having informal discussions with our neighbours, but we are waiting to see exactly what the legislation says.”

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown said last week the Government would provide further details mid-year on the broader range of structural and financing tools that would be available to other councils to ensure they could finance themselves and access the longterm debt required for investment in water services infrastructure. All legislation to support the implementation of Local Water Done Well is expected to be passed by mid2025, Brown said.

Gordon said it was great the Government was delivering on its Local Water Done Well policy.

“What they’ve landed on is a simple, affordable solution that sees ownership of water assets stay in the hands of the communities that have paid for them.”

He said Waimakariri’s infrastructure was in great shape, but it was working with its neighbours to see if they could work together to deliver water services.

“That said, no decision will be made without consulting with the community.”

Christchurch City Council interim chief executive Mary Richardson said the council would explore all options for the provision of three waters services to the community and would discuss this with other Canterbury councils. There is a public briefing on the issue on Thursday.

Selwyn District Council (SDC) chief executive Sharon Mason said the council was in the process of evaluating a range of options for the district’s water management.

Once councils received more information about the establishment of CCOs from the Government mid-year, it would review the information and hold a workshop with councillors to discuss options, Mason said.

“SDC remains open to exploring all partnership opportunities in the three waters space.”

Selwyn District Council recently allocated $5 million to investigate new wells after high nitrate levels were found in drinking water supplies in several towns including Rolleston and Darfield.

A long-term solution to move away from nitrate-contaminated water supplies could cost more than $400m.