The Department of Internal Affairs has approved Tasman District Council’s Water Services Delivery Plan.

All territorial authorities had to prepare a plan. This includes all district and city councils, and unitary authorities, but due to the impact of the winter storm emergencies Tasman was granted an extension to the deadline to submit a Plan.

The assessment was considered by a Panel consisting of senior representatives from National Infrastructure Funding and Financing Limited, the Local Government Funding Agency, the Commerce Commission, the Water Services Authority, and the Department of Internal Affairs.

The Panel also included an external observer, whose role was to ensure the integrity and consistency of the Panel discussion. The Panel was chaired by the Department's Executive Director Water Services Reform Programme.

Tasman District Council Chief Executive Leonie Rae is welcoming the plan’s approval and says this is a significant and important milestone in the establishment of a stand-alone business unit to manage the Council’s water infrastructure.

“I appreciate the input from the Department of Internal Affairs who have worked closely with staff from various areas within council to produce the plan.”

She says Tasman District Council has demonstrated a commitment to deliver water services that meet regulatory requirements, support growth and urban development, and that are financially sustainable.

“We can now move forward in establishing our In-House Water Business Unit (IBU) to continue the delivery of our water services.”

The move to a fully functioning IBU, managed independently from other Council activities within a ringfenced framework, must be finished by July 1, 2027.