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Resolution
number PPK/2023/41
MOVED by Deputy Chairperson J Robinson, seconded by
Member K Hieatt:
That
the Papakura Local Board:
a)
note
the Papakura Local Board urgent decision dated 21 February 2023 providing local board feedback on the Water Services Legislation Bill as follows:
i) the
board supports the intention of three waters reform, particularly the need,
outside Auckland, to achieve economies of scale and greater professionalism;
greater investment in water; and the need for regulation to ensure uniformly
high standards of quality for fresh water and treatment of wastewater,
nationwide.
However, our feedback on
the Water Services Entities Bill raised concerns regarding the proposed
governance structure of the new entities, and the reduced accountability to
Auckland’s elected members and voters. We do not consider that the
final version of that Bill as enacted sufficiently addressed those concerns.
We do not support proceeding with the transfer of functions, powers, and
assets to the new water services entities until those concerns have been
resolved.
We are also concerned
about undertaking the process of establishing the new water service entities
and transferring assets to them in a general election year. Depending on the
outcome of the election, there is a risk that large amounts of time and
resource will be expended on this, only for the reforms to be reversed by an
incoming Government. For this reason, we believe that the Three Waters Reform
Programme should be placed on hold until after the general election.
Our further feedback
below should be read in this context and should not be considered to indicate
endorsement of this Bill.
ii) the
board does not support local government organisation assets that do not
relate wholly to the provision of water services being eligible to transfer
to water services entities. Assets that partly or largely serve other
purposes, such as local parks and reserves which have stormwater assets
located in them, or stormwater ponds that are also used for recreational
purposes should not be eligible to transfer.
iii) any
asset transfers from local government organisations to water services
entities must not result in local government organisations being left with
liabilities for assets they no longer control. All liabilities relating to an
asset must also be transferred with the asset.
iv) the
Bill includes requirements on how water services entities should consult with
when making decisions, but not on who should be consulted with. There should
be specific requirements in the Bill as to when local government
organisations should be consulted with. In recognition of Auckland
Council’s unique governance model, there should also be specific
requirements to ensure that local boards are consulted regarding any proposal
that might affect their local areas.
v) the
board is concerned that this Bill does not address the funding model for
water services going forward. It is essential that, if this new system is
implemented, funding to ensure that it will be sustainable is guaranteed.
vi) in
the event that the Three Waters Reform Programme is placed on hold or
repealed, there should be a guarantee that the funding already paid to local
government organisations as a part of the programme will not need to be
repaid.
vii) Auckland
Council currently plans stormwater management on an integrated catchment
basis, which we also consider to be best practice. We are concerned that the
scope of the Three Waters Reform Programme does not include stormwater
outside urban areas, transport stormwater systems, agricultural and
horticultural water, regulation of private drainage, land drainage and flood
control. The resulting fractured ownership of stormwater assets could make
integrated catchment planning difficult.
viii) the
board is concerned that the proposed transition timeframes in the Bill could
result in a long gap between when local government organisations are to stop
including Three Waters in long term planning and the initial long term
infrastructure plans of the new water services entities.
CARRIED
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