Council sets the date for Local Water Done Well consultation

05 May 2025

Buller District Council has confirmed the timeline for its Local Water Done Well consultation.

Council will ask the community for feedback on how to manage the district’s drinking, storm and wastewater in the future as required under the Local Water Done Well legislation between 16 May and 13 June 2025.

Chief Executive Simon Pickford outlines: “We have meticulously analysed all the available options over the last few months, ruling out several unfeasible models. This rigorous process ensures our options for public consultation are the most viable and beneficial for our community in the long term.”

Council representatives held initial discussions in 2024 with Grey and Westland District councils to understand if there were any opportunities to work together, however these discussions did not progress.

Council then engaged with other councils in the South Island to see whether there was an appetite to work toward a ‘Top of the South’ multi-council-controlled organisation (CCO). However, this also did not progress. In recent months, the idea of a West Coast multi-council CCO has been revisited and has gained momentum.

Mr Pickford elaborates: “The feasible options are either a multi-council CCO with other Grey and Westland District Councils or a stand-alone business unit which would be an enhanced version of the status quo, with water services operating as an independent entity within council.

Since December 2024, multiple workshops have been held with elected members and a steering group set up. This includes the two Infrastructure portfolio leads, Cr Phil Grafton and Cr Grant Weston, council staff and experts, ensuring that diverse perspectives and expertise are considered in shaping the way water services are delivered in the future.

Mr Pickford highlights: “One key point that has come out of the work done to date is that scale matters. The more people contribute to covering the costs, the more affordable water services will be in the future for our community.”  

The consultation document for public consultation will be considered by council on the 14 May. After this, council will consult with the community in May–June and decide on a preferred option in July. This option will form the basis for the Water Service Delivery Plan.
Council must adopt the Water Service Delivery Plan in August to submit to the Department of Internal Affairs by 3 September 2025 for review and sign off.

Mr Pickford says: “In the consultation document, we will present the two feasible options for the community to consider, along with high-level cost estimates for the coming decades. We encourage the community to provide feedback on this key decision in May.”

The Local Water Done Well consultation timeline is:

  • 14 May 2025 – Council will adopt the consultation document.
  • 16 May 2025 - Public consultation opens.
  • 13 June 2025 - Public consultation closes.
  • 30 June – 1 July 2025 - Council will listen to people who wish to speak during the hearings.
  • 2 – 3 July 2025 - Council will discuss the submissions during the deliberations.
  • 16 July 2025 - Council will adopt the preferred option.
  • 27 August 2025 – Council will adopt the Water Service Delivery Plan
  • 3 September 2025 – Council will submit the Water Service Delivery Plan to the Department of Internal Affairs

-ENDS-

For further information, please contact: 
Community Engagement Team  
Buller District Council 
Media.Enquiries@bdc.govt.nz   

Disclaimer
The information in this media release was correct at the time of publication. Changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact the accuracy of the information.