Few submissions on water

Few submissions on water

Consultation on how Horowhenua water services should be delivered has resulted in only 93 submissions, despite the issue being labelled as “the most important for this generation”.

Consultation closed on April 10, and submissions were heard on Wednesday (April 30). The council will decide the future of its local water management later in May.

Both Horowhenua and Palmerston North’s preferred option is to have a council controlled organisation involving Manawatū, Palmerston North, Horowhenua and Kāpiti councils.

Horowhenua consulted on four options, while Kāpiti has consulted on just two options – the four councils together or going it alone. The latter is Kāpiti’s preferred option.

Palmerston North says it prefers the four councils option, but has also looked at providing water services in-house, as well as seeing if other councils in the wider Horizons region might be willing to join.

Manawatū’s preferred option is to go it alone, but it has also consulted on the four councils joining together, as well as just going with Palmerston North.

Horowhenua District Council chief executive Monique Davidson says the council won’t know which councils are available and willing to form a joint entity until they decide on their option, which will happen in May and June.

“It is true that KCDC and MDC have preferred options that would see water service delivery remain in-house, but it’s important to note that the outcome of their consultation can’t be pre-determined ahead of their councils’ decisions,” she says. “We have modelled a number of other options, including a two-council water services organisation with just PNCC and HDC and our option 2 enables us to pursue this, should KCDC and MDC decide to retain their water service delivery in-house.” 

The government requires councils to submit Water Services Delivery Plans by September 3.

It has said it will confirm acceptance of plans or recommend changes if required about October.  If a plan is not accepted the local government minister can appoint a crown facilitator or crown water specialist to provide an acceptable plan.