Canterbury Councils Press On With Water Plan, Despite ‘Disappointing' Response
The Hurunui and Kaikōura district councils have completed their consultations on a proposal to form a joint water services council controlled organisation (CCO) to manage water services.
The Kaikōura District Council held its deliberations on Wednesday, after receiving just 14 submissions, with nine backing the joint CCO proposal and four preferring to go it alone.
The Hurunui District Council will meet on Tuesday, May 13, to deliberate after receiving 53 submissions, with 25 in support of forming a joint CCO with Kaikōura and 23 favouring an in-house water services business unit.
Councils need to submit water services delivery plans for review by September 3 under the Government's Local Water Done Well reform programme.
The legislation aims to address the country's water infrastructure challenges and replaced the previous Government's Three Waters Reform.
Kaikōura Deputy Mayor Julie Howden said the response was ''pretty disappointing'', but she was impressed with the quality of the submissions.
The council's chief executive Will Doughty said the shares will be allocated based on the net assets of each council, but it still needs to be worked through.
''We need to ensure there is a fair and equitable allocation.''
While a final decision will be made at the May 28 council meeting, Mr Doughty said the council is still progressing towards a joint CCO with Hurunui.
Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said despite the low turnout, the submissions have given the councillors plenty to think about.
''A lot of people have said they have a high level of trust in the council and the council has invested heavily in our three waters services in recent years.
''We have worked through an incredibly complex process and we will deliver a proposal to the Department of Internal Affairs before the September 3 deadline.''
The Hurunui district has small population of around 13,000 over a large geographical area, while Kaikōura has a population of 4200.
Both councils have invested heavily in their three waters infrastructure since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in November 2016.
Under the new legislation, a joint CCO can borrow up to 500 percent of council revenue, instead of the usual borrowing limit of 280%.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
Hellen Swales Announces Candidacy For Mayor In The 2025 Local Body Elections For Upper Hutt
Upper Hutt, 7th July 2025 – Hellen Swales proudly announces her candidacy for Mayor in the 2025 Local Body Elections for Upper Hutt. Committed to enhancing community engagement, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and prioritising residents' needs, Hellen aims to positively impact on the Upper Hutt community. As a passionate advocate for value-driven services, Hellen emphasises transparency and accountability within the council. "I will ensure our council focuses on value for money in the services it delivers, demonstrating this through clear communication with the community," Hellen stated. Her goal is to secure the council's long-term financial sustainability by effectively managing debt, funding essential services, and limiting non-essential/vanity projects. Aligned with the ongoing 'Local Water Done Well' initiative, Hellen is committed to advocating for affordable water solutions that truly benefit the community while ensuring transparency in the council's considerations. "It is crucial that we prioritise our communities' needs and work towards solutions that are both effective and sustainable," she added. Hellen believes that listening to the community is vital for the council's success. By acting on Community Survey results and sharing improvement plans, she aims to respond effectively to community priorities and concerns. "Building trust with our community starts with understanding their needs and communicating our plans clearly," Hellen emphasised. To foster engagement, Hellen plans to re-evaluate the council's communication strategies and channels. By establishing focus groups cantered on key areas like the economy, environment, and upcoming legislation, and enhancing community involvement in decision-making processes. As an active member in our community for many years, Hellen sees a need and a desire for a stronger community voice and hence her goal is to establish a stronger community relationship which can be involved at the right time to drive community outcomes. Furthermore, Hellen will establish Key Performance Indicators for Councillors and the Chief Executive, ensuring accountability through annual reviews and sharing the results with the community. 'It's essential that we hold ourselves accountable to the people we serve,' she remarked. Hellen Swales invites all Upper Hutt residents to join her in this journey towards a more transparent, accountable, and community-focused council. Together, we can build a stronger future for Upper Hutt. Hellen believes working together will provide Upper Hutt the change we need and the voice it deserves.
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
New Study Shows Speed Of Antarctic Ice Melt, Govt Fans Climate Flames
As the Government pulls out of global climate commitments, a significant new report shows that sea ice around Antarctica is melting at unprecedented speed. 'This is a clear and urgent signal that the climate crisis is accelerating, and a critical tipping point may have already been passed. It's not a distant threat to think about somewhere down the line; it's here,' says the Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson. 'The Aotearoa we all deserve is entirely within our grasp. Devastatingly, this Government is failing us all, undermining global climate efforts at every opportunity–all in the name of short-term thinking and profit. 'Last month, we learned the Government was being sued for their lack of a climate plan. Then we learned their 'investment' into gas fields was a breach of the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), having sought no advice on the ramifications. 'Then, just two weeks ago, Luxon's Government abandoned the international Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance. It cannot go on. 'The Green Party is calling on the Government to urgently show real climate leadership, by honouring the global commitments we have signed up to. 'We also need serious investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, which is possible and affordable, as we've shown in our Green Budget. 'Truly prosperous economic activity is only possible if our planet is also thriving. We depend on a stable climate for the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and the materials for life–the things of true value,' says Marama Davidson. Using Scoop for work? Scoop is free for personal use, but you'll need a licence for work use. This is part of our Ethical Paywall and how we fund Scoop. Join today with plans starting from less than $3 per week, plus gain access to exclusive Pro features. Join Pro Individual Find out more
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Watch: Acting Prime Minister David Seymour on changes to anti-money laundering act
The acting prime minister and associate minister of justice are holding a press conference at the Beehive this afternoon. David Seymour and Nicole McKee are expected to make an announcment on the government's anti-money laundering policy. Seymour will also be available for questions on other topics, as the first day of hearings into his Regulatory Standards Bill begins . Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
