Community views on water service delivery options heard by Council

A decision on how Horowhenua’s water services will be delivered is one step closer. 

At an extraordinary council meeting today elected members received 93 public submissions on Local Water service delivery options and heard in person from seven submitters. 

As part of the Government’s Local Water Done Well programme and new legislation, every council has had to consult with their communities on how they deliver water services in the future. 

During a month-long consultation period community members were asked to give their preference to one of the following options: 

• Option 1 (Council's Preferred Option) - A Water Services Organisation jointly owned by Horowhenua District Council, Palmerston North City Council, Manawatū District Council, and Kāpiti Coast District Council 

• Option 2 - A Water Services Organisation jointly owned by all willing councils from the Manawatū Whanganui and Kāpiti regions 

• Option 3 - Status quo – water services remain in-house.  

Of the 93 submissions received:  

• 57% (53 submissions) chose Option 1  

• 8% (8 submissions) chose Option 2  

• 30% (28 submissions) chose Option 3  

• 4% (4 submissions) did not choose an Option.  

‘We thank the community for their input into this crucial matter,’ says Mayor Bernie Wanden. 

‘The way we deliver water services will affect people living here for generations to come, and it’s important we make the right decision. 

‘We are having to weigh up costs with community benefits, environmental protection, the special relationship to the land of iwi and hapū, and changing legislative requirements. 

‘It’s quite the jigsaw puzzle.’ 

Mayor Bernie noted that while the majority of submissions were in favour of Council’s own preferred option, a Water Services Organisation jointly owned by four councils in the region, it was possible that some of those councils would not want to join up. 

‘In that case we could pursue Option 2 – an organisation made up of willing councils.