Stratford council weighs regional versus stand-alone water service delivery plans

At last Tuesday’s meeting, councilors debated whether council staff should continue to move forward with a combined regional analysis for the future provision of water services with Stratford and South Taranaki district councils or pause the collaborative approach in favor of one independent.

The clock is ticking on the process, chief executive Sven Hanne told councillors, saying there was a 12-month “legislative deadline” and they were already more than six weeks into it.

They would be aware, he said, that both neighboring councils had made this decision over the past few weeks and had chosen to continue investigating a regional and independent approach.

“That doesn’t mean you have to follow the same path. It just gives you an idea of ​​how others have taken it.”

In the decision report, Hanne stated that while the work so far on modeling the various options had been funded by a residual budget from the Three Waters Reforms, that budget had already been exhausted.

He stated that no budget had been allocated for modeling in the long-term plan, so the costs of researching the options were not budgeted. That cost was estimated at about $250,000 to $300,000, he said.

Councilman Grant Boyde said he was frustrated by the process.

“What frustrates me is that central government legislates local authorities to develop and publicly consult on a public water service delivery plan after everyone has made their long-term plans and has no budgets; For me, that really bothers me.”

The sooner elected members can rule out options, the more beneficial it will be financially, Hanne said.

“But on the other hand, you obviously need to explore them until you’re sure they’re not an option for you.”

Councilor Steve Beck was in favor of Stratford going it alone.

“I believe in supporting ourselves here, as Stratford has done for many years. I’d like to see us create our own business unit for that and spend the money on that. “I think we have a good infrastructure.”

He said he felt going alone was a viable option.

“I like it.”

Deputy Mayor Min McKay asked what would happen if elected members decided to continue investigating a regional model only if, at the next decision point, one of the neighboring councils decided to opt out of that proposed model.

“It has to be a coalition of willing people,” Hanne said, adding that a coalition model doesn’t have to simply be neighboring councils, but could include councils further north or south.

“But to start, I would say that if there are two councils that wanted to go together or wanted to go as a group and one chose not to participate, it would be the remaining players who would decide if they want to do it as a smaller group. group or has lost critical mass at that time.”

Councilor Hall said while she normally didn’t like to make decisions based on what others had done, in this case she felt they should consider the decisions New Plymouth and South Taranaki councils had made on the matter.

“If we decide not to consider the regional model, the option falls for everyone. If we decide not to try to do it alone, then if our neighbors jump off the ramp at the next point, we will be completely on the defensive. “So I think the pragmatic and sensible approach is to consider both options.”

That way, he said, councilors would have a good understanding of the options.

“Then when the next step comes, we can go to the community with all the information at hand.”

Mayor Neil Volzke agreed.

A regional model is, he said, the one that has been most discussed in the previous proposed Three Waters Reform and in the new legislation.

“That’s the one that’s been covered over the last seven years in various shapes and forms, the one that’s been developed and that’s in front of us.”

“I think we should explore options for a regional model and also for an independent model; That way we will have something to compare with.”

When the final decision came next year, it was important to remember that it wasn’t just about choosing the cheapest option, he said.

“There are, and will be, other factors that come into play in this.”

When the vote came down, 10 of the 11 elected members present voted to continue investigating options on both a regional model and for Stratford to go it alone with the water supply plan. Councilman Steve Beck voted against. Councilor Clive Tongaawhikau was absent.

Disclaimer: Editor Ilona Hanne is married to the chief executive of Stratford District Council.

Ilona Hanne is a Taranaki-based journalist and news director covering breaking and community news from across the Lower North Island. He has worked for NZME since 2011.