Local Water Done Well Notes

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥: 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 true 6 April 2025

Cr Duncan here of Taupo District Council, once again telling it how it is as I see things anyway. Thursday just gone we had two very interesting workshops on the upcoming on Local Water Done Well decision required to happen by 3 September. If you pay attention to nothing else this Council ever gets up to, you should be paying attention here because the stakes are so high. This decision could affect the future affordability of living here not just for yourself, but generations to follow.

Department of Internal Affairs presentation 3 April: https://youtu.be/sOO-xyMd0JE?si=Ui-02ocny6m78r22

Council staff presentation 3 April: https://youtu.be/8n-GrpbMoPc?si=05TXYBT0hLJMbWRO

What’s the latest? Basically in a few weeks’ time the public will be consulted on the Council preferred option, which if nothing else changes from now will be for water services to essentially remain an in-house Council operation. This is opposed to setting up a new Council Controlled Organisation (CCO), or joining up to the combined councils Waikato Water Done Well CCO (WWDW).

How did Council come up with that preference? I really can’t answer that, because thus far the only information your elected members have been provided with to compare options is in the form of slideshow presentations as here. Although there is a working group which comprises Councillors Taylor, Williamson and Fletcher (and now Shepherd in place of departing Park), if any in-depth analysis has been undertaken it hasn’t yet been shared. My general perception is that this case for the least change possible is largely based on fear of the unknown – and given the uncertainty surrounding this whole exercise, I think that is entirely understandable. But are your elected members being properly informed to be able to make the best decision? Not at all.

So what’s in all this for you? Water services comprise a significant chunk of your rates bill, and no matter what option we go for there is going to be changes happening. The new regulatory body will apparently be keeping a closer eye on things than in the past, and the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) have mentioned that this Council appears to have quite high operating costs and charges to consumers. But that doesn’t mean unfettered spending sprees can’t still occur, as I maintain has been happening in local government for decades. DIA also mention the Australian state of Victoria as an example to emulate, but that is mainly due to a revenue cap regime which is not included in any of our options.

𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮 : those are words that get tossed around a bit, but making then actually happen in a place like local government is something of a golden chalice. I say we should all be demanding this as an opportunity to make these things better, and to not just carry on as before.

𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗮𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝘂𝗽𝗼? 2 April, 2025

I am not completely sure. Council is having two presentation workshops tomorrow Thursday 3 April by both the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), and immediately following by staff to show us their preferred option. I have asked to receive information prior to the workshops so as to be able to prepare, but have so far received nothing. After that, we zoom straight to April 15 when Councillors are expected to tick it off for public consultation.

I have an awful feeling elected members are once again going to be railroaded into making a decision without adequate chance to question or debate, and this for easily one of the most important decisions of the triennium. Hope upon hope that I am wrong.

𝐈𝐬 𝐖𝐚𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥 (𝐖𝐖𝐃𝐖) 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐬? 24 Mar 2025

Councillor Duncan of Taupo District Council reporting, as I see things anyway. Last Tuesday 18 March we had a presentation in Chambers by WWDW, who are a group trying to pull together a combined water services group of like-minded Councils to operate water and wastewater services, and with a final decision scheduled to be made by this Council around June of this year. Other Councils could number as many as a half dozen including the likes of South Waikato, Waitomo, Waipa etc. It is easily the most important decision to be made within Local Government this term or many others, and one of the WWDW presenters mentioned it as a once in a generation opportunity. I don’t think he is far wrong in that assessment, because it is a pretty big deal.

The workshop lasted over an hour and to those interested I would have recommended a full viewing, but unfortunately the new Chambers audio-recording system has failed us this time (or those operating it anyway). But at least the notes and slides can be found here: https://www.taupodc.govt.nz/…/meetings/council-workshops

I seemed to be the only one who came to the workshop prepared with some challenging questions, but Cr Shepherd had a pretty decent one near the end asking if WWDW was still viable if Taupo District which has the greatest number of water connections did pull out. One thing I did mention was something that John Ryan the Controller and Auditor-General said in his submission to the Waters Bill: “𝘐𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘫𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘴s𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦”. The response from the WWDW presenters was not entirely reassuring.

We have a couple more workshops in the next few weeks before Council decides upon a preferred option to go to public consultation in April, so things are moving rapidly. The shortlisted options are to either join forces with WWDW, or to go it alone in some form or other. Even though we haven’t been presented yet with any numbers to be able to compare, my hunch is that staff preference will be the former. However, a few elected members are expressing some pretty vehement reservations and with good reason I believe. There is not much doubt in my mind that the more divorced an organisation is from local ownership and accountability, the greater chance that things can spiral out of control. There are many examples of that happening, and just look at where we are now compared to pre-1989 when local government amalgamation happened. I say: in the proverbial poop.

Local Water Done Well … but will it really? 20 Feb 2025

Councillor Duncan of Taupo Ward reporting, as I see it anyway. This time about a workshop Tues 18 Feb entitled “Local Water Done Well Update”. It is actually a very big deal and it is being done in a hurry because central government says it has to. The audio-video can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8iKkrFoKW4

Basically the government is forcing through a revamped version of Three Waters, which is the management of water, wastewater & possibly stormwater, but without the same controversial co-governance aspect. Timeframes are tight, and the current timeline is that public will be consulted with a preferred and at least one other option in March/April, with a Council decision to be made in June.

There are quite a few options to consider, and partnering up with some other Councils is a strong contender. Crs Rankin, Greenslade and myself all voiced our cynicism about the rose-tinted efficiency gain promises of bigger institutions (e.g. Supercity Auckland), but it is also being held that being a small fish in a big pond could make it harder for things like access to contractors and more convenient debt funding (is that such a bad thing?).

As with many significant decisions at this Council, there is a working group doing stuff behind the scenes that only a nominated few elected members are privy too, with the rest of elected members expected to fall into line and endorse its recommendations. I see this as no different, and if you view this workshop recording you will be not too much less informed than myself on this topic. And we still haven’t seen any of the financials to be able to compare the options.

One aspect which has particularly irked me is a refusal to see the resume of the key Council staff member leading this project, which I have been requesting since December. Because if we are expected to heavily rely on this persons advice, then doesn’t it stand to reason we should be able to review their track record? I find it extraordinary that I am the only elected member to think this way (then again I am the only one in a technical profession), and you can hear my brief altercation with the Deputy Mayor about this at 22.00 min. That is not to say I think this particular person is unsuitable, but I find this sort of outright refusal disturbing.

Quote for today is from an old favourite of mine below, anyone recognise him?