Three waters reform

In July 2020, the Government launched a programme to reform local government’s delivery of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services. These services are currently provided by local authorities and the Government has signalled its intent that these services will in future be provided by new, publicly-owned water service delivery entities.

At present there is no fully developed three waters reform proposal to present to the community for consideration. However, local authorities, including Selwyn, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government under which they agree to work together in the first stage of the reform. This commits us to engage with the initial reform programme and share information on our three waters assets and operations.

The Government is taking a voluntary, partnership-based approach to reform, in which local authorities would be asked to decide to participate in the new service delivery system in late 2021; this decision would be in the form of an ‘opt out’ approach. For councils that participate in the reforms, any transfer of responsibilities and assets is likely to occur in from July 2023.

While the reform creates uncertainty for the Council, we have been advised to prepare our Long-Term Plan 2021–2031 on the assumption that the Council will continue to provide the three waters services. Our voluntary involvement in the first stage of the reform programme will put us in the best possible position to prepare.