Ashburton District Council’s water services delivery plan for an in-house business unit to deliver water services for the district has been accepted by the Department of Internal Affairs.

The delivery plan was required by law as part of reforms to drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services for all councils.

Chief Executive Hamish Riach said he was pleased to hear today from the Secretary for Local Government Paul James that Ashburton’s delivery plan had been assessed and accepted.

“This plan is no small document and sets out in detail how Council intends to provide water services for its communities, while meeting new national water quality and Commerce Commission requirements. There was overwhelming support from the community for an in-house business unit when we consulted about how water should be delivered in the future, and we’re pleased that the community’s preferred position has been accepted by the DIA.

“Work now turns to implementing the plan, which will be operational by July 2027.”

Developing the plan, Council had to assess its water infrastructure and how much it needed to invest in improvements, and how it planned to finance and deliver water services.

Council will soon receive a delivery plan assessment report, which sets out aspects of the plan that will be monitored by the DIA during implementation.

Mr Riach said both the delivery plan and the assessment report would be available on Council’s and the DIA’s website.