Council progresses Local Water Done Well proposals
Work is progressing towards achieving the Government’s water reform programme, Local Water Done Well.
The reforms aim to address New Zealand’s water infrastructure challenges and place emphasis on financial sustainability, appropriate regulation of water services and ensuring flexibility for communities and councils in determining how their services - water supply, wastewater and stormwater - are delivered.
A report presented at last Thursday’s full Council meeting summarised the analysis of a potential Marlborough standalone water utility. Analysis of a multi-council option - with Tasman and Buller district councils - will be presented to Council on 3 April.
Chief Financial Officer Geoff Blake said consultants Beca and Martin Jenkins had provided extensive analysis of the Council’s current projected water services’ financial information, based on its 2024-34 Long Term Plan.
“Currently debt repayments for our water infrastructure investment are supported by income received each year from Port Marlborough and river land rental income. However using this type of income does not meet the Government’s new ‘ringfencing’ rules, whereby our new water utility must be financially separate from Council’s other functions and activities.”
Mr Blake said the Government had originally provided councils with five water service delivery options, including a modified status quo (in-house council department), a single council controlled organisation (CCO), a joint CCO with other councils, and two types of trusts.
“Work is continuing to identify and understand the benefits of a multi-council CCO as well as a standalone Marlborough CCO for the decision-making process on a preferred option to take to public consultation in April,” he said.
Marlborough District Council provides 16,789 properties with drinking water; 14,229 have a wastewater connection and 9,591 have a stormwater connection.
Further information, including a Viability and Sustainability Assessment by consultants Beca and Martin Jenkins.
