Local Water Done Well (LWDW), is a programme of reforms introduced by the Government in February 2024 that replaced what was known as Three Waters Reform. Since then, the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act was enacted on 2 September 2024, and a third bill is expected to arrive in late 2024 to round off the new legislative requirements.
As part of this programme, councils across the country must develop and submit Water Services Delivery Plans (WSDPs) by September 2025. This process enables councils to design the structure, delivery method and funding and financing arrangements for their water services (drinking water and wastewater only). The final WSDPs need to demonstrate how Council would achieve financial sustainability for its water services by 1 July 2028.
There are several options available for investigation and as part of this journey, we’re looking at options which involve delivering these services by ourselves as well as working with New Plymouth and South Taranaki district councils to consider what joint water services delivery could look like in Taranaki.
What’s happening now
At the Policy and Services meeting on 22 October, the committee recommended to proceed with investigating both joint and independent Water Services Delivery Plans.
If you wish to read the report to the Policy and Services Committee, you’ll find it on page 63 of the October agenda online here.
It’s important to note that no final decisions have been made on how we will deliver water services in the future and elected members will discuss in January/early February 2025 which options to take to the community for consultation.
Looking ahead
Over the next couple of months, elected members will be presented with more information on ownership/structure options, governance arrangements, timeframes and delivery costs, and transition planning and public consultation. All of this will help inform which options are the most practical for Stratford in the long term, and those will be taken to the community for consultation in early 2025.
