Local Government New Zealand has asked the Government to slow down its contentious Three Waters reforms, and delay the hand-over of complex storm water systems to new centralised entities.
The national organisation representing councils published its submission to the parliamentary committee considering the Government’s Three Waters reforms on Monday. The reforms would have the country’s three waters – fresh, waste, and storm water – managed by four public water entities instead of councils.
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) president Stuart Crosby said the transition of water services from council to entities should be more phased.
“The water services entities should start operating when they and their councils are ready, and this has to reflect the variable nature, up and down New Zealand and the water space,” Crosby said.
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LGNZ has suggested that one entity could be “piloted” to begin with. The Government has set a deadline for completing the reforms of July 2024.
“The reality is transition is well underway now, and there are boots on the ground or people now actively working in that space of transition … Drop-dead deadline dates may not be the smartest way to approach this.”
Crosby said the Government’s proposed inclusion of storm water in the reforms was “under-developed” and bespoke arrangements between the new entities and councils would be required.
Storm water infrastructure was complicated by how it overlapped with other council functions, such as roading, parks, and water catchment management.
George Novak/Bay of Plenty Times/LDR
LGNZ president Stuart Crosby. (file photo)
“Given the complicated situation, the one size fits all approach with regard to storm water is unlikely to work,” Crosby said.
“There’s huge risk here, and the risk is more in the storm water space than it is in the water and waste water space, and that risk needs to be carefully managed, potentially at a longer transition.”
There has been no indication the Government will adjust its plans to accommodate LGNZ’s view.
STUFF
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta says the Government will create four new public water entities, with local councils taking non-financial shareholdings. (First published on April 29, 2022)
Crosbie said LGNZ’s suggestion about storm water was new, but it was not too late for the Government to take up this recommendation.
LGNZ provided its submission to Parliament’s finance and expenditure select committee, which has been considering the Water Services Entities bill, which will enact the reforms. The committee will make recommendations to the Government about any changes to the prospective law before further votes in the House proceed.
The Three Waters reforms have been highly contentious and divisive among councils, with many protesting the removal of control of water services from local government.
Crosby said LGNZ’s latest position was not an attempt to reach a “compromise” between the councils it represents.
“The vast majority of councils do not support this [reform] model. We took a proactive view … to acknowledge that the Government has the power to do what they’re doing … Therefore, our role is to make sure that at least it will work as best it possibly can on the ground, in time.”