Southern Water Done Well

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The Future of Our Water Services: What You Need to Know

Our community faces a big decision about how drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services will be delivered in the future.

We’ve partnered with three other councils—Clutha District, Central Otago District and Waitaki District—to form Southern Water Done Well. Together, we are working to find the best solutions that ensure sustainable, efficient, and compliant water services for our communities.

What is Local Water Done Well?

The Local Water Done Well legislation requires councils to change how they manage water services, invest more in infrastructure, and comply with stricter government regulations. While this gives councils more control over local water decisions, it also increases central government oversight.

The Government has made it clear that councils must work together to make Local Water Done Well a success.

Why Change is Necessary

Doing things the way we have always done them isn’t an option as current operating models are likely to fall short of meeting new legislative requirements, including financial sustainability.

Water costs are rising due to:

✅ Population and industrial growth
✅ Increasing infrastructure costs for upgrades and renewals
✅ Higher water and wastewater standards
✅ Additional compliance and regulation from Commerce Commission and Taumata Arowai
✅ Ageing infrastructure requiring urgent investment
✅ Mitigation measures to our changing climate

These challenges mean councils must rethink how they deliver water services to meet new regulations and community expectations.

The Journey to Local Water Done Well

The water reforms were introduced to ensure every community in Aotearoa New Zealand has access to safe, clean drinking water while also improving wastewater and stormwater management.

A key trigger for these reforms was the Havelock North gastroenteritis outbreak in August 2016, where 5,000 people fell ill and four people lost their lives due to contaminated drinking water.

Following this tragedy, extensive reviews uncovered serious issues with New Zealand’s water infrastructure, safety standards, and regulatory oversight. These findings highlighted the urgent need for stricter water regulations and significant investment in better water management systems.

Now, through Local Water Done Well, councils are working together to create safer, more sustainable, and future-proof water services for our communities.

What Happens Next?

In the coming weeks, we’ll share three potential service delivery options and what they mean for our community.

The Future of Our Water Services: What You Need to Know

Our community faces a big decision about how drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services will be delivered in the future.

We’ve partnered with three other councils—Clutha District, Central Otago District and Waitaki District—to form Southern Water Done Well. Together, we are working to find the best solutions that ensure sustainable, efficient, and compliant water services for our communities.

What is Local Water Done Well?

The Local Water Done Well legislation requires councils to change how they manage water services, invest more in infrastructure, and comply with stricter government regulations. While this gives councils more control over local water decisions, it also increases central government oversight.

The Government has made it clear that councils must work together to make Local Water Done Well a success.

Why Change is Necessary

Doing things the way we have always done them isn’t an option as current operating models are likely to fall short of meeting new legislative requirements, including financial sustainability.

Water costs are rising due to:

✅ Population and industrial growth
✅ Increasing infrastructure costs for upgrades and renewals
✅ Higher water and wastewater standards
✅ Additional compliance and regulation from Commerce Commission and Taumata Arowai
✅ Ageing infrastructure requiring urgent investment
✅ Mitigation measures to our changing climate

These challenges mean councils must rethink how they deliver water services to meet new regulations and community expectations.

The Journey to Local Water Done Well

The water reforms were introduced to ensure every community in Aotearoa New Zealand has access to safe, clean drinking water while also improving wastewater and stormwater management.

A key trigger for these reforms was the Havelock North gastroenteritis outbreak in August 2016, where 5,000 people fell ill and four people lost their lives due to contaminated drinking water.

Following this tragedy, extensive reviews uncovered serious issues with New Zealand’s water infrastructure, safety standards, and regulatory oversight. These findings highlighted the urgent need for stricter water regulations and significant investment in better water management systems.

Now, through Local Water Done Well, councils are working together to create safer, more sustainable, and future-proof water services for our communities.

What Happens Next?

In the coming weeks, we’ll share three potential service delivery options and what they mean for our community.

  • Gore District Council backs joint council water services model

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    Gore District councillors have voted for a multi-council-owned organisation as their preferred option for the future delivery of water services in Gore and Mataura.

    The Council joins its Southern Water Done Well partners - Clutha District Council, Central Otago District Council, and Waitaki District Council - in selecting a jointly owned Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO) as their preferred model to meet the transformational changes mandated in the Government’s Local Water Done Well legislation.

    All four councils will consult their communities on water services delivery options early next month.

    The options are:

    • A jointly owned CCO (preferred option)

    • A stand-alone CCO

    • An in-house business unit

    Gore District Mayor Ben Bell welcomed today’s decision, emphasising that councils across the country face increasing water service costs and the urgent need to renew ageing infrastructure.

    “Irrespective of the delivery model, the financial burden on councils and communities is growing. One thing is clear - the more people who share the costs, the more affordable they become for everyone,” he said.

    While costs will continue to rise, financial modelling shows that a jointly owned CCO would result in lower water service charges compared to the other two options. It would also provide economies of scale while ensuring communities retain a local voice.

    "Local Water Done Well marks a new era for water services in New Zealand, and councils must evolve with it.

    “Over the next 10 to 30 years, we are facing multi-million-dollar investments to maintain and upgrade our infrastructure. Under the current model, this would place an untenable financial burden on our Council and community.”

    The public will be able to provide feedback on the options from Friday 9 May until Friday 6 June.

    All councils must submit a Water Services Delivery Plan to the Government by 3 September, outlining how they will meet regulatory requirements, support growth, and ensure financial sustainability.

Page last updated: 10 Apr 2025, 09:05 AM