Horowhenua StarIt’s been described as one of the biggest decisions facing Horowhenua residents in a generation, but is anyone really taking any notice?
Horowhenua District Council is calling on residents to have their say on one of the most significant decisions for the district’s future – who or what will manage the district’s water services.
Elected members voted on the council’s preferred consultation option at a meeting last week, but few were watching a live-stream of the meeting online and even fewer were in the public gallery.
Councils throughout New Zealand are facing big challenges in maintaining and upgrading essential infrastructure such as water, roads and electricity. The costs of meeting new drinking water standards, climate change mitigation, population growth, and aging infrastructure replacement are increasing.
Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden says these pressures will affect both taxpayers and ratepayers, making this consultation crucial.
“Drinking water is absolutely essential to maintaining life, and the costs associated with treating and delivering it are significant,” he says. “Our current approach places a growing financial burden on council, which could impact service levels across other council activities.”
The first challenge for the council will be how to increase resident and ratepayer engagement.
“We know this is a complex issue, but it’s essential that our community gets involved,” Bernie says. “Together, we can ensure that local water services are delivered well for the future.”
Under the government’s Local Water Done Well programme, all councils must consult with their communities on the future delivery of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services.
With increasing costs, regulatory requirements, and aging infrastructure, the council must decide on the best approach to ensure safe, reliable, and financially sustainable water services. It has explored several options for water service delivery, ruling out single council-owned entities and independent consumer trusts because of affordability and funding constraints.
Instead, the focus is on three key options that would ensure water services are fit for purpose, are financially sustainable, with more robust oversight and regulation of water quality and costs.
Councils are exploring options that spread the cost of delivering water services across a greater number of residents in an effort to make it affordable.
The council’s preferred option is to form a new water service entity with Palmerston North City Council, Manawatū District Council and Kāpiti Coast District Council.
GIVE FEEDBACK
Residents can learn more and have their say by:
• visiting Let’s Kōrero online
• attending Cuppa with a Councillor sessions
• joining a citizens’ panel workshop
• joining Facebook Live Q&As
• submitting feedback before April 10
Community consultation started earlier this week and ends on April 30. A final decision is likely on May 15.
For more details on the consultation, including a breakdown of the options and projected costs, visit letskorero.horowhenua.govt.nz/LWDW
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