A new water delivery plan for the district has been approved by central government, allowing for a council controlled organisation (CCO) to deliver water services.

In August the CCO model was agreed to by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), after then mayor Glyn Lewers used his casting vote.

Councillors were split on whether to establish a water services CCO or retain water services in-house, and the majority of public submissions opposed the creation of a CCO.

Read more: Mayor casts deciding vote on future of QLDC water

Deputy mayor Quentin Smith and councillor Niki Gladding (both of whom have been reelected) opposed the move, with Quentin saying the CCO model did not address the core issues and Niki saying the move was an “example of the guts being stripped out of local government”.

The CCO model - approved in a 6–6 deadlock broken by the former mayor - means water services will be owned by QLDC but run independently by a board of industry professionals.

A water services CCO aligns with the government’s direction of moving the delivery of water services away from local government to professional water service entities.

Council staff said the new model would meet new financial and regulatory requirements and improve long-term resilience. 

QLDC has now received a letter from central government approving its water services delivery plan. The letter also notes QLDC’s plans for continued investment in resilience improvements for its water infrastructure.

Council was required to select a delivery model before a September deadline set by the government’s Local Water Done Well reform programme, which aims to address long-standing water supply, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure challenges.

A transition plan for the move to a Water Services Council Controlled Organisation (WSCCO) is underway.

Find more information here.

PHOTO: Wānaka App