The Stockwater Exit Transition Plan that will usher the council out of the business of delivering stockwater by 2027 has been adopted.

The plan clearly sets out the process the Ashburton District Council will take in exiting the service, the intakes and various water sources that feed the stockwater network and an approximate order of work.

The council decided in the long-term plan to exit from the delivery of the stockwater services by June 30, 2027.

Group manager of infrastructure and open spaces Neil McCann said the plan contains the programme of work with the order of intakes under consideration, starting with the Pudding Hill intake and Methven Auxiliary intake.

“A key part of the project will be making sure property owners, stakeholders and the wider public have access to timely information as each of the intakes are considered, so I encourage people to sign up via council’s website for regular email updates.”

The plan was developed by the Stockwater Transition Working Group, led by Cr Richard Wilson, which will monitor the progress of the exit plan and report any issues back to the council.

The group consists of representatives from Federated Farmers, Environment Canterbury, Te Runaka o Arowhenua representative, and council appointees ( Wilson, Carolyn Cameron and Mayor Neil Brown) as well as a specialist consultant.

McCann said stockwater customers are interested in how the council will exit the service and when it will affect them.

“The transition plan sets out the order of work, with suggested timeframes, though there is flexibility to bring work forward if, for example, an organised group has a solid proposal to take over an intake.”

Affected property owners and stakeholders will be contacted as the work progresses.

The next meeting of the transition working group will be on March 6.