Frequent Asked Questions

The previous Government started looking at the three waters when people died after consuming contaminated water in Havelock North in 2016, and is forcing change. The Government says the old system (councils running water services individually) can’t reliably deliver safe drinking water, protect the environment, or provide all the investment needed. The Government also wants councils to work together to save money. In 2021, the water regulator Taumata Arowai was established. Taumata Arowai's objectives include protecting drinking water safety and related public health outcomes, administrating the drinking water regulatory system, and overseeing the regulation, management, and environmental performance of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater networks.

Local Water Done Well is the Government’s plan to address New Zealand’s long standing water infrastructure challenges. It replaces the previous government’s Affordable Waters reform proposal. It aims to:  Tackle New Zealand’s long-standing water infrastructure challenges by enhancing the quality, sustainability, and affordability of water services nationwide.  Introduce new economic and quality regulations to improve service standards.  Ensure water services are future-proofed and financially sustainable.  Make water services delivery more effective and efficient.  While the reforms provide some local flexibility on how this is achieved, it puts a strong emphasis on compliance with central government rules and regulations.

Buller, Grey and Westland District Councils have chosen to form a Water Services Council Controlled Organisation (WSCCO) to deliver our three water services. It is called Coast Waters Ltd.  Coast Waters will operate independently from Council with its own board structure and management. Coast Waters will be responsible for planning, funding, building and maintaining water services infrastructure, as well as running the day-to-day customer-facing services.

The Council provides water services which include drinking water, wastewater and stormwater.  Drinking water – ensuring the provision of safe and reliable drinking water to communities.  Wastewater – Managing the collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater to protect public health and the environment.  Stormwater – Handling stormwater drainage to reduce flood risk and manage runoff in urban areas.   Creating a single water services entity will bring efficiencies. A board of directors will be fully focused on delivering effective and efficient services across the West Coast. The legislation also enables Coast Waters to borrow, spreading costs of borrowing over a longer period. This means more investment can be made in the short term to meet regulatory and renewal needs, while improving delivery and creating further efficiencies in the medium to longer term.

Creating a single water services entity will bring efficiencies. A board of directors will be fully focused on delivering effective and efficient services across the West Coast. The legislation also enables a Water Services Council-Controlled Organisation (WSCCO) to borrow, spreading costs of borrowing over a longer period. This means more investment can be made in the short term to meet regulatory and renewal needs, while improving delivery and creating further efficiencies in the medium to longer term.

A Shareholders Representative Forum is being set up with the Mayor and two elected members from each Council plus iwi representation. Decision making by the group will be based on equal representation by all three Councils.

Given the significant investment required to respond to regulatory expectations, Coast Waters will need to undertake substantial borrowing. It is not anticipated that dividends will be payable to shareholder councils for the foreseeable future.

Your rates bill from the Council will decrease, however you will get a separate bill for water. Regardless of which option the Councils choose, water will cost more money in the future due to the investment and regulatory requirements.  Coast Waters Ltd is the cheapest option, but it’s still more expensive than current osts.

Currently, the average Grey District ratepayer pays $2038 a year for water. In Westland, it starts at $2863  and Buller $3416.  We have undertaken a lot of financial modelling.  Modelling is based on a series of assumptions, so it is bit like a weather forecast – we use the best information we have at the time. Assumptions include anticipated population growth, operating efficiencies, cost of responding to changing legislative requirements, water-related debt at the point of transfer and the cost of transition and set-up of Coast Waters Ltd.  It is the cheapest option to deliver water services given the directive from Government.

No, not in the current format. However, the three councils are aware of a new financial assistance scheme currently being developed by Central Government to assist ratepayers.

There is a long history of deferring the renewal of our drinking water infrastructure to try to keep rates as low as possible for residents.  That has culminated in a bow-wave of renewals requiring investment. Across the nine years of the Long-Term Plan, Buller, Grey and Westland District Councils have set aside $124.9 million, $86.5 million, $47.1 million for investment in drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services, respectively.

Key upcoming three waters projects per district: Westland Hokitika Wastewater Treatment Plant Franz Josef Wastewater Treatment Plant Blue Spur Membrane Replacement Grey Greater Greymouth water treatment plant upgrade Karoro/South Beach/Paroa wastewater redirected to Greater Greymouth (Preston Road) Sewer/stormwater separation on private property Buller Westport Wastewater and Stormwater 10 Year Separation Programme Untreated Northern Buller Supply Drinking Water Programme Reefton Wastewater Resource Consent Renewal and SW Separation

That is something that you would need to discuss with your Council customer service team. If there is infrastructure leading up to your property, you would still need to pay for it, given the ongoing cost of repairs and maintenance.

There is little to no impact on residents who are not connected to water or wastewater services other than any current costs associated with infrastructure leading up to the property.

From July 2027, Coast Waters Ltd will manage drinking water, waste and stormwater services. Until then, you can contact your local council.

Councils will continue to have input into the relationship they expect Coast Waters to have with their customers.    The Shareholders Representative Forum sets the strategic direction via the statement of expectation, which is given to the new water entity every year.  This is then followed by a statement of intent from the organisation’s board to the shareholding Councils.

Your council will continue to collect money via rates for the three water services until June 2027. After that, Coast Waters will set water charges. It will decide the approach to charging, the frequency of charging and whether to add water meters.