Three Waters Reforms
Three Waters Reforms
In July 2020, the Government launched the Three Waters Reform Programme – a three-year programme to reform local government three waters service delivery arrangements, including water, wastewater and stormwater. This reform programme builds on the Three Waters Review and saw the establishment of the new water services regulator for Aotearoa, Taumata Arowai, in March 2021.
You can read more on the reform programme here.
What we currently do
Water Supply
Our Water service ensures our communities are supplied with clean, safe drinking water to ensure the health and wellbeing of our residents. Our key levels of service for the Water assets are described in Long Term Plan. Our Water service consists of seven water supply schemes, including nine water treatment plants, 10 pump stations and 393 km of reticulated water supply to our towns and rural settlements.
In addition, we have established a new bore in the North East of Morrinsville, which is currently going through the consent process, to supply the Lockerbie side of town. This will allows us to treat and supply additional water for Morrinsville. We have secured land for the Water Treatment Plant and a contract for the design is under way.
Wastewater/Sewage Treatment and Disposal
The wastewater service ensures that wastewater (sewage and grey water that goes down your drains) is collected, treated and disposed of appropriately for the health and wellbeing of our community and environment. Our key levels of service for the wastewater assets are described in Long Term Plan.
Our wastewater network consists of five wastewater treatment plants, 36 pump stations and 243km of wastewater pipes.
Stormwater
Stormwater systems safely and efficiently drain surface water to minimise flooding in our communities. Stormwater is drained from our urban areas and is discharged either into streams, rivers, open drains, retention or detention ponds. We aim to ensure stormwater is well managed, and work with property owners to improve stormwater drainage and reduce flooding.
The network consists of 6 retention ponds, 148km of stormwater pipes, manholes and soakage systems and devices.
Performance of Three Waters
Our key levels of service for the Three Waters activities are described in our Long Term Plan, with performance reported in our Annual Report every year. You can read more in our 2020/21 Annual Report here (the 2021/22 Annual report is set to be adopted by Council in December 2022).
What's on the horizon?
Challenges
- Maintaining Business As Usual (BAU) until such time the assets are transferred. If the Water Services Bill becomes legislation, our Three Water assets will be transferred to the new Water Entity 1 July 2024. Until such time, it is Council’s responsibility to maintain continued service delivery of Three Waters service
- Additional reporting requirements – Council continues to comply with its obligations under the Three waters legislation, providing information and data as required by the new water authority. with the formation of the new water authority there are additional reporting requirements for our Three waters team. There’s also regular request for financial and asset information from our teams to assist the transition unit. While DIA has made some funding available to support these new requirements, it puts additional pressure on our teams who are already at capacity. This means that at times, there are competing priorities for our teams to attend to.
- Provides an opportunity for councils to reflect on what Council’s role is, without the responsibility of managing the three waters.
Opportunities
Reform support package - Better Off Funding
Through its Three Waters reform plan central government has made funding available for local councils. The purpose of the funding is to enable Council in;
- Supporting communities to transition to a sustainable and low emissions economy, including by building resilience to climate change and natural hazards.
- Delivery of infrastructure and/or services that enable housing development and growth, with a focus on brownfield and infill development opportunities where those are available.
- Delivery of infrastructure and/or services that support local place-making and improvements in community well-being.
Council staff are currently working on a draft proposal, which will be discussed with Council in due course before Council will decide whether or not to apply for the funding.
Questions to consider
- How can Council support its staff and communities through the transition period?
- How can Council ensure our communities will continue to receive good quality drinking water, and wastewater and stormwater services?
For more information please visit Te Tari Taiwhenua - Department of Internal Affairs website here
