Water reforms: Mayor wants more detail

Waipā Mayor Jim Mylchreest wants more information before deciding on whether or not he supports the government’s water reforms.

Today government announced it intends transferring management of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater from 67 independent councils to four large publicly-owned entities. Each entity would be governed by an independent board.

The announcement means Waipā District Council is likely to be part of a central North Island entity involving 22 councils in the greater Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and parts of Manawatu-Whanganui. Boundaries will be confirmed in September 2021, following further discussion with councils and iwi. The change will not come into place until 2024 and councils will continue to manage three waters until then.

Mylchreest said while he welcomed assurances no community would be worse off financially through the reforms, his Council had not yet gone through the detail just released. Staff are doing that now, he said.

“I don’t want to be altogether negative because I’m simply wanting more evidence. And it’s important to note Council has not yet landed on any formal position. But I do have concerns that won’t be allayed until I have more information around issues like the transfer of Waipā assets and the retention of a local voice for the people of our district.”

“I accept the notion of national good and accept our sector must do what is best for New Zealand overall. I support that but do note that the vast majority of councils, including Waipā, have done a pretty good job with water,” he said.

“It is disingenuous of any government to bemoan a lack of investment in infrastructure when I can point to multiple examples of government under-investment over many years in sectors like health and education. And let’s remember, councils have to work within financial restrictions imposed by government.”

He noted Councillors nationwide were elected to look after our own communities.

“Waipā ratepayers are relying on us to look out for their best interests. We need to do that and that’s what our focus should be going forward,” he said.

“I’m not entirely convinced yet the reforms will deliver what is being promised. But they are happening, like it or not. That is the reality. So we need to get on with it and make these changes work for us and our district.”

Waipā chief executive Garry Dyet said he had a responsibility to deliver the best possible water services at the lowest possible cost to the community.

He agreed more detail was needed but believed that generally, bigger entities would be in a better position to drive cost efficiencies for ratepayers.

“At the end of the day, I don’t think ratepayers are too concerned what entity delivers their water, or takes care of their wastewater and stormwater as long as it’s done well and done cost-effectively,” he said.

“If the reforms can deliver that, that’s a good thing. But I agree with the Mayor that there are still many questions to be asked and answered.”

Dyet said that transferring the waters business to another entity would impact on all parts of council.

“Three waters is about 20 per cent of our business in total. If that goes, there will be a downstream effect on the rest of the organisation. So we are going to need to work through a whole raft of issues with our staff who will be caught up in this one way or another.”