Ashburton's mayor says a Mid Canterbury solution is being considered for managing water services in his district.

The Government has given councils until September 2025 to submit water delivery plans as part of the new Local Water Done Well legislation.

Under the new reforms, councils must decide whether to join with other councils (CCOs) or go it alone to manage their water infrastructure.

Councils have been exploring options to meet the Local Government Minister Simeon Brown’s goals of financial sustainability and regional collaboration.

Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown said his council opposed the former Government's Three Waters reforms as they wanted to retain community ownership of the water and wastewater infrastructure.

The council has discussed with the other Canterbury councils the potential of combined water organisations, but the future remains “open for discussion”, he said.

There are essentially three options the council is looking into: Retaining the status quo with added regulatory oversight from the Commerce Commission; setting up a new council-controlled organisation (CCO); or combining with someone else “to develop a Mid Canterbury solution”.

There could be a potential partnership with EA Networks, he said, with the council the majority shareholder (95%) of the Mid Canterbury electricity distribution and fibre optic communications network company.

Brown said the council would explore all those options and  consult with the community on the chosen option.

Consultation is earmarked for March or April, once the council narrows down the range of options.

The Selwyn District Council is exploring options including potentially establishing a CCO. The council plans to indicate a preferred option at its October 23 meeting.

The Kaikōura, Hurunui and Waimakariri councils already announced they will create a water services delivery plan together.

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger has signalled the city council would likely go it alone and manage its own water assets.

It’s understood the Timaru, Mackenzie and Waimate councils are also discussing the potential of working together.

New three waters committee formed

A councillor's suggestion to appoint the entire council to a committee has been labelled ridiculous by the mayor.

The council established a new three waters committee, which chief executive Hamish Riach said was not focused on the three waters reforms, but overseeing the work programme in drinking, waste and stormwater activities.

Councillor Carolyn Cameron suggested the full council be appointed to the committee.

Brown called it “totally absurd” for the entire council to sit on the committee.

The motion was lost and instead a subsequent motion had five councillors appointed.

Councillors Lynette Lovett, Tony Todd, Russell Ellis, Phill Hooper and Liz McMillan, as well as the mayor will make up the committee.

Ellis was named as the chairperson.

The other councillors are able to attend the committee meetings.

The team will meet every six weeks to consider matters of compliance, work programme, service delivery and forward planning, and report back to the council.

By Jonathan Leask