Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown says he and his councillors are keen for a discussion about how a regional water organisation could work for the district, as part of an alternate three waters reform proposed by the mayors of Auckland and Christchurch.

“The last council didn’t support the Three Waters reform and at the next council meeting I’ll be asking the new council their view, as I haven’t done this formally yet.

“We previously opposed Government’s reform of drinking water, stormwater and wastewater services as it stands at the moment, and we saw that it had divided local government around the country.

“This move by two of the mayors of the largest cities in New Zealand opposing those Three Waters reforms will hopefully get the appropriate attention of the Government.

“We are definitely up for a discussion on how a regional model could work for us and allow us to retain local ownership, and local control and input.”

The Government wants to move drinking water, stormwater and wastewater assets away from councils and instead manage them via four large water entities. Ashburton would be part of a largely South Island entity.

The city mayors’ proposal, released this week, would maintain crucial aspects of Government’s existing plan, including the new water regulator Taumata Arowai, while maintaining local ownership, control and accountability, and allowing for meaningful roles for mana whenua.

Regional Water Organisations (RWOs), which would be unable to be sold outside local authority ownership, would have access to investment capital through a new Water Infrastructure Fund administered by central government’s own Crown Infrastructure Partners.

Mayor Neil Brown said that over the years the Ashburton council had maintained and built up three waters assets, which had a combined value of over $200 million.

“We believe we are in a good position for the future. Other councils may not be in the same position, but we all agree a consensus is needed to move forward in the three waters space.”

Ashburton is also one of the 30 member councils of Communities 4 Local Democracy, which is against the reforms in their current form.

For more about Communities 4 Local Democracy He hapori mo te Manapori and details of its own proposals, visit www.communities4localdemocracy.co.nz