Southland, Otago councils unite over water

Ten Southland and Otago councils are uniting to try find a way forward for its delivery of water services in the future.

The approach comes on the back of the Government’s Three Waters review, which is looking to improve the regulation and supply arrangements of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater to support New Zealand’s health, safety, and environment.

Most water assets and services are owned and delivered by local councils.

The requirements on councils are expected to increase in the future to meet water standards. This has prompted 10 Southland and Otago councils to look at ways to work together.

The 10 councils are: Dunedin City, Central Otago District, Clutha District, Queenstown Lakes District, Waitaki District, Otago Regional, Gore District, Invercargill City, Southland District and Environment Southland.

The councils want to carry out a business case study, at a cost of $375,000, to explore what options may be viable for the future delivery of water services.

Central government has been asked to fund half of the business case, with the councils to fund the other half.

The business case is expected to take about eight months, to be completed by December. It will then be brought back to the councils for discussion.

Dunedin City Council infrastructure services general manager Simon Drew said the investigation was not about privatising water.

‘‘It is the beginning of a conversation about the most efficient and effective way of delivering these vital services. Government has been very clear that Three Waters assets remain in public ownership.’’

Gore District mayor Tracy Hicks acknowledged water requirements in the future could be costly on councils.

‘‘The capital expenditure programme that we have in Gore has never been greater and there has been no indication it is going to get less in the future, so we need to make sure that we are doing it once and doing it well.

‘‘If that means a slightly different method than has happened in the past, then so be it, but let’s explore the options.’’

The main aim for the councils was to ensure they had a safe and secure water supply for the communities and then to look at how to make it cost-effective, he said.

Southland councils already work collaboratively in various areas of operation, with the most welldocumented being WasteNet, which deals with the province’s waste.

That relationship has soured in recent times after a disagreement over what direction they would go with its recycling contract.

However, Hicks felt council partnerships would continue to be key.

‘‘I think there is a natural desire of councils . . . to work together and in Southland. We’ve got examples of about 50 different projects we have collaborated on overtime – most of those are still operating really well.

‘‘We’ve had perhaps a couple that have had some hiccups, so it’s probably not a bad strike rate. Working together is the way forward.’’