Wellington Water recast under way

Wairarapa and Wellington councils have joined forces to work through proposals to replace the now-abandoned “Three Waters” programme, after the coalition government asked for regional plans which can implement its alternative “Local Water Done Well” project.

South Wairarapa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the region’s nine other local bodies to undertake the design work for a new water services body. 

An alternative to a 10-entity grouping plan could see the three Wairarapa councils coalesce to run a separate water entity and develop their own water delivery plan, the Times Age suggested.

One report suggests South Wairarapa and Carterton will put $10,000 each into the planning fund, with Masterton to pony up double that amount. 

Initial funds are expected to come from the residue of a water programme development fund pool held by the Department of Internal Affairs. Funding beyond August remains unclear.

Currently, the local bodies use Wellington Water as their water services provider. 

Wellington Water describes itself on its web site as “100 percent council owned and funded … to provide safe and healthy drinking water, collect and treat waste water and ensure the storm water network is well managed.”