Whanganui District Council to decide on water supply model by December

“We need to look to the future when it comes to our water infrastructure, three, 10, 30 years from now,” he said.

“We need to consider how we could work with other councils in terms of cost and efficiency, while retaining local ownership of our water resources and ensuring local decision-making.”

A report last month by Three Waters Transition Manager Kathryn Stewart found retaining independence would result in a sharp increase in the average cost of connecting Whanganui between years two to four (2025-2028) of the council’s 10-year Long Term Plan (LTP), by about $200 per connection, on top of forecast rates.

Stewart said joining forces with other councils in Manawatū-Whanganui would make the project marginally cheaper, but there was no compelling financial reason to join with Taranaki.

In April, council chief executive David Langford said “going it alone” was a credible option and the council’s long-term action plan was developed on the basis that the council would continue to provide three water services.

Tripe said the council had made good investment decisions in the past and had increased investment in three types of water infrastructure.

Compared to many other councils in the country it was in a “very favourable situation”.

“However, we recognise that the new rules will increase costs for end users, whether we go it alone or join forces with some of our neighbours.”

Rangitīkei District Mayor Andy Watson said this week he was committed to presenting elected members with a model for a council-controlled water supply organisation.

“The question is whether we engage with all of the Horizons (regional councils), some of them, or whether we go it alone,” Watson said.

Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton said when it comes to potential partnerships across the three waters, “we naturally gravitate towards Whanganui”.

Tripe said the council was considering all options, both as an individual council and with its neighbours in the Manawatū-Whanganui region.

“The council will need to make a decision by early December on what service delivery model it proposes to include in its Water Services Plan in order to be able to consult on the plan in line with legal requirements,” he said.

“Council will need to consider a number of factors in deciding how to proceed – the financial impact on water users, the views of the community and the strategic benefits and drawbacks of joining forces with our neighbours.

“We want to hear from the community early on about our options and what’s important to them.”

Mike Tweed is an assistant news director and multimedia journalist at Whanganui Chronicle. Since March 2020, he has been involved in everything from sports to music. His current focus is local government, primarily Whanganui District Council.