Whakatāne District Council meets on Thursday (30 September) to consider its draft submission on the Government’s Three Waters Reform proposal.
The draft submission, in the form of a letter to Minister Mahuta outlines the Council’s questions and concerns and has been developed following eight weeks of analysis and workshops to understand the Three Waters Reform proposal and its implications for the District and its communities.
"This eight week period was negotiated by Local Government New Zealand as a time for council's to get to grips with the content of the reform, but it was not intended to be a time for public engagement. We chose however to invite feedback from our communities to help inform our understanding and shape our conversation with Government. We also talked with the district's Iwi Chairs and Chief Executives.
We received responses from approximately 220 people and the sentiment of that feedback is included in the draft submission," says Mayor Judy Turner.
The Three Waters Reform is a proposal by Government to change the responsibility for the provision of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services from the country's 67 local authorities and to create four Entity’s to deliver those amenities. The Local Government Minister Hon Nanaia Mahuta has asked Council’s around the country to provide feedback on the reform proposal by 1 October.
All committee and full Council meetings at COVID Alert Level 2 are being held via Zoom. A link to meetings can be requested by emailing Governance Support Advisor Janie Storey - janie.storey@whakatane.govt.nz