All councils must submit a draft Water Services Delivery Plan to the Department of Internal Affairs for approval by 3 September. Photo: 123RF
Taranaki councils are seeking public feedback on a proposal to team up to establish a regional council-controlled organisation to deliver drinking water and wastewater services.
The Water Services Council-Controlled Organisation (WSCCO) is the preferred option of the New Plymouth (NPDC), Stratford and South Taranaki councils for meeting the requirements of the government's Local Water Done Well strategy.
All three also have an option to continue delivering all water services through an in-house business unit - similar to what they do now, but with some changes to meet new legislative requirements.
Additionally, NPDC is consulting on an option for its own WSCCO.
Taranaki Mayoral Forum chair and Stratford District Council Mayor Neil Volzke said the councils started looking at a range of options in March last year, a big part of the discussion being what a joint water services model could look like in Taranaki.
"What was clear from the extensive investigations was that by working together, a regional model was a viable option well worth looking at and this has become the proposed model for each council."
He said reforming water services was a complex issue, with a range of advantages and disadvantages inherent in every model being considered.
"This is an incredibly important decision, probably one of the biggest that we have faced in many years - which is why it will be important to hear from our communities on what they believe is the best long-term option."
Due to the nature of stormwater services, including it being influenced by other council services such as roads, parks and land management and growth planning, stormwater would continue to be delivered by each council.
Ways to have your say are available on each council's website.
Submissions close 5pm, Friday 30 May.
All councils must submit a draft Water Services Delivery Plan to the Department of Internal Affairs for approval by 3 September 2025.
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