‘Overwhelming Support' For Ashburton's Standalone Water Plan
The Ashburton District Council is poised to adopt the in-house, ring-fenced delivery model for its Water Services Delivery Plan on Wednesday, which will be lodged with the Department of Internal Affairs by September 3.
Although the standalone business unit was deemed the cheaper option, the cost of water services is expected to rise due to tougher water regulations, a councillor warned.
At last week's submission hearing and deliberations, councillors covered the 234 submissions, which showed 88% support for the council's proposed delivery model.
Deputy mayor Liz McMillan said the key message from the community was 'local control and wanting the council to continue the good work that we have been doing'.
Around 9% of submitters favoured the alternative option of establishing a water services council-controlled organisation (WSCCO), while the remaining 3% suggested another option or didn't specify a preference.
Councillor Russel Ellis said the heavy weighting towards the proposed option was 'probably one of the clearest lots of public submissions I've seen in my time here'.
One of the supporters was former district councillor Stuart Wilson, who was the lone submitter presenting in person at the hearing last week.
'It was important to show support for the option the council decided was the best for our district.
'Sometimes, through thinking the obvious choice will be accepted by rate payers can mean that the opposing view can activate themselves out of proportion to public opinion.
'The overwhelming support for the standalone business unit is an emphatic endorsement of your option that the council favoured.'
He also advised the council that he backs the introduction of water meters to all properties connected to council supplies.
'Not only to monitor usage but to charge according to usage.'
There has been a suggestion that it will become a legislative requirement in the future, 'so the sooner this is implemented in this district, it will be advantaged to comply with legislation and to ensure water is used responsibly'.
In the deliberations, McMillan noted that the council's position is to use water meters only or leak detection.
'[There's] no plan for charging for water, but we could be directed otherwise going forward.'
Ellis wanted it to be clear that while a standalone business unit was deemed the cheaper option, the services wouldn't be cheaper.
'With the regulations that are changing, there will be increased costs.'
The council's standalone business unit will need to meet stricter requirements, including regular reporting to the Commerce Commission, which will ensure that water service charges are fair and sustainable, and ongoing renewals and maintenance are appropriate.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Booster Foundation Supports Provincial High Schools To Access Online Learning Platform
The Booster Foundation is supporting 40 provincial high schools to access an online learning platform that helps prepare rangatahi for life challenges like financial planning, further education and work. Booster Foundation to sponsor 40 provincial high schools to access online learning platform MyMahi to grow students' financial capability and independence MyMahi helps prepare young people for life challenges such as financial planning, education and work Booster Foundation will cover most of cost to 40 schools to allow more students to access MyMahi The Booster Foundation is supporting 40 provincial high schools to access an online learning platform that helps prepare rangatahi for life challenges like financial planning, further education and work. The Booster Foundation funds initiatives that support build the financial capability of New Zealanders so they can achieve better financial outcomes and has partnered with My Mahi to widen its availability to young people. MyMahi provides learning modules and resources to equip young people with crucial skills and knowledge as they step toward adulthood. 120 New Zealand schools are already connected to MyMahi and it's expected that this year up to 100 thousand students will use its resources. Booster Foundation Chief Executive Anika Speedy says sponsoring 40 high schools in provincial parts of the country to access MyMahi will benefit students who lack access to facilities like banks and other resources available in cities. 'The Booster Foundation is covering almost all the cost of a school signing up with MyMahi, so its students can utilise these resources. That's $1450 for the first year, with the school only needing to come up with $100,' says Anika Speedy. 'We know a person's financial resilience depends on employment, effective money management and saving. MyMahi has some outstanding resources to guide young people as they navigate challenges like these. 'This includes its support to help young people set up banks accounts and KiwiSaver to get them on to a life-time habit of saving. 'A great example is MyMahi's digital school ID. Students will be able to use it to verify their identity via the Department of Internal Affairs which means it can be accepted by banks, KiwiSaver providers, tertiary institutions, and government organisations, so young people can get on their path to financial independence,' says Anika Speedy. MyMahi director Jeff King says 'We are very excited to be able to help more young people in provincial schools gain access to MyMahi through Booster's generous sponsorship. Teenagers love it, and although many use it at school, there are also a huge number who access it in their own time which says a lot about how useful it is.'
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Tauranga City Council Postpones Decision On Water Services Delivery
Tauranga City Council has postponed its decision to confirm a preferred delivery model for future water services. While Council was expected to make a decision on Monday, it opted instead to leave the report on the table to allow time for further discussions with the community prior to making a decision. The decision comes after Thames Coromandel District Council signalled it wished to progress alongside Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council in a multi-council CCO at the end of April when Tauranga City Council's public consultation had already concluded. Tauranga City Council Mayor, Mahé Drysdale says Council has been very open to working with any Council that provides mutually beneficial outcomes. 'Western Bay of Plenty District Council has always been our preferred partner, but we have had conversations with a number of councils and worked through different scenarios. 'Off the back of that scenario modelling, we now have two councils that we could progress with, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, whom we consulted alongside in April, and more recently Thames Coromandel District Council.' 'The involvement of Thames Coromandel District Council is a relatively recent development and before making a decision, and moving to due diligence, we need to update our community about our potential new partner and ensure the community is fully informed,' Mahé says. 'Although a delay could compress the time required for submitting a Water Services Delivery Plan by 3 September, it is important that we get this right." 'We look forward to continuing to engage with all of our people and appreciate any feedback on how we can make Tauranga better.' A decision on Council's preferred delivery model is now expected on 5 August 2025. If a multi-council CCO was preferred, Council would also need to approve a Commitment Agreement, which would allow councils to work together and undertake a due diligence process that assesses a joint operating model. The establishment of any multi-council CCO would be subject to all parties being satisfied with the outcomes of the due diligence process, and any council could choose to withdraw if it was dissatisfied with its findings. Te Awanui Ward Councillor Hēmi Rolleston says it was appropriate to postpone the decision. 'This is one of the most important decisions this Council will make. Therefore, to leave this decision for a further three weeks is a practical decision, based on feedback from Iwi that they require more time, particularly with the relatively late inclusion of Thames Coromandel District Council.' Community event The Mayor and Councillors will be holding an information and Q&A session with the community about Local Water Done Well on Thursday, 24 July from 5-6pm at the University of Waikato in the Te Manawaroa Room. Free parking will be available from 4.30pm on the day at the council parking building on Spring Street. Notes: Local Water Done Well is the New Zealand government's plan to reform how water services are managed and to tackle the country's significant water infrastructure challenges. During public consultation in April 2025 a total of 726 people provided submissions addressing 'Why wai matters: Local Water Done Well', via council's online submissions form.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Booster Foundation Supports Provincial High Schools To Access Online Learning Platform
Booster Foundation to sponsor 40 provincial high schools to access online learning platform MyMahi to grow students' financial capability and independence MyMahi helps prepare young people for life challenges such as financial planning, education and work Booster Foundation will cover most of cost to 40 schools to allow more students to access MyMahi The Booster Foundation is supporting 40 provincial high schools to access an online learning platform that helps prepare rangatahi for life challenges like financial planning, further education and work. The Booster Foundation funds initiatives that support build the financial capability of New Zealanders so they can achieve better financial outcomes and has partnered with My Mahi to widen its availability to young people. MyMahi provides learning modules and resources to equip young people with crucial skills and knowledge as they step toward adulthood. 120 New Zealand schools are already connected to MyMahi and it's expected that this year up to 100 thousand students will use its resources. Booster Foundation Chief Executive Anika Speedy says sponsoring 40 high schools in provincial parts of the country to access MyMahi will benefit students who lack access to facilities like banks and other resources available in cities. 'The Booster Foundation is covering almost all the cost of a school signing up with MyMahi, so its students can utilise these resources. That's $1450 for the first year, with the school only needing to come up with $100,' says Anika Speedy. 'We know a person's financial resilience depends on employment, effective money management and saving. MyMahi has some outstanding resources to guide young people as they navigate challenges like these. 'This includes its support to help young people set up banks accounts and KiwiSaver to get them on to a life-time habit of saving. 'A great example is MyMahi's digital school ID. Students will be able to use it to verify their identity via the Department of Internal Affairs which means it can be accepted by banks, KiwiSaver providers, tertiary institutions, and government organisations, so young people can get on their path to financial independence,' says Anika Speedy. MyMahi director Jeff King says 'We are very excited to be able to help more young people in provincial schools gain access to MyMahi through Booster's generous sponsorship. Teenagers love it, and although many use it at school, there are also a huge number who access it in their own time which says a lot about how useful it is.'
