Public Consultation on Water Services Closes This Weekend
- Holly Grundy
- 5 minutes ago
- 1 min read
Public consultation on the Whakatāne District Council’s future water services wraps up this weekend, with submissions closing at 5pm on Sunday, 18 May.
The process is part of the Government’s new Local Water Done Well legislation, which replaces the former Three Waters Reform. The new framework allows councils greater flexibility in how they deliver safe, sustainable, and efficient water services.
“We’ve examined what’s needed to meet both the legal requirements and the specific needs of our district,” said Mayor Victor Luca. “Now we want to hear from the people we serve, before we make any final decisions.”
Residents are being asked to provide feedback on two proposed delivery models:
Multi-Council Controlled Organisation (Multi-CCO) – the Council’s preferred option, involving a jointly owned water services entity shared with other councils.
Standalone Council Unit – where Whakatāne District Council would continue managing water services internally.
The consultation opened on Thursday, 17 April, and closes this Sunday.
“Water services might be out of sight, but they affect all of us every day,” Mayor Luca added. “We want to ensure they remain safe, reliable, environmentally responsible, and affordable – now and into the future.”
Feedback can be submitted via the Council’s website.
