Three Waters decision disappoints

SOUTHLAND mayors have expressed disappointment at the Government’s plan to push through Three Waters reforms, but say they are relieved to finally have an outcome.

The Government confirmed yesterday it would press on with the reforms, pulling management of water away from individual councils.

It would create four publicly owned water entities with a governance structure consisting of both council and mana whenua appointees.

But some councils are concerned they will lose control of systems that have already required significant individual investment.

Three Southland mayors have expressed similar sentiments: the outcome is not surprising even though the consultation phase produced a range of feedback.

Invercargill Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt said it was good a decision had been reached, but felt it was obvious the reform was going to happen regardless of opposition.

Sir Tim believed Invercargill already had good infrastructure in place, and was now being lumped with less developed regions.

‘‘I guess you could say we took one for the waka. It’s too early to tell I guess, what the outcome will be,’’ he said.

‘‘Local government have been through dozens of meetings and workshops, and yet the outcome is just so predictable,” Sir Tim said.

Gore Mayor Tracy Hicks said there had been a call for reform from local government for some time, and he was relieved a decision had been made.

He was still worried what the changes would look like.

‘‘The change or reform we were looking for is not what we’re seeing or hearing today, and that’s disappointing. At least now we have some certainty. And that’s something we haven’t had for quite some time.”

Mr Hicks said his main concerns were around maintaining local voice in decisionmaking, entities’ accountability, and service delivery times.

Southland Mayor Gary Tong said he needed time to go through the details of the reform.

‘‘I’m disappointed we didn’t get more detail and have more open conversations, including with our residents, before this decision was made,” he said.

Talks on centralising storm, drinking and waste water have been a hot topic since the Government’s launch of the Three Waters reform programme in July 2020.