Local Water Done Well submissions to be considered next week

Buller District Council (BDC) will come together next week to consider 35 submissions on the proposed options for how Buller delivers its water services in future under the Local Water Done Well legislation.

Between 16 May and 13 June 2025, council invited the Buller community to provide feedback on two options, which are to form either a multi-council-controlled organisation with two or more District Councils (Grey and Westland), or an internal business unit based within Buller District Council for water services delivery.

Nine people have chosen to speak to their submissions during the hearings, which are scheduled for next week. Council has published the individual submissions and a consultation report analysing the submissions on the Buller District Council website.

The hearings and deliberations will take place at the Clocktower Chambers in Palmerston Street on Monday 30 June and Tuesday 1 July.

Council will listen to people who wish to speak to their submissions, then discuss the submissions during deliberations. Proceedings for both will be livestreamed to council’s YouTube channel, Buller District Council.

Group Manager Infrastructure Services Anthony Blom says: “Next week, after the deliberations and hearings are complete, councillors will make a decision regarding which option to endorse, after which BDC’s Water Service Delivery Plan will be formulated. This document will direct how Buller’s drinking water, stormwater and wastewater will be managed in future. Further information will be released after this date.”

The Water Services Delivery Plan will then be adopted at an Extraordinary Council meeting on 27 August, after which it will be submitted to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) for review and approval. The DIA will then share this information with the Commerce Commission in October.

Mr Blom continues: “It is anticipated that council will publish the final Water Service Delivery Plan in December and implement the new water service delivery model on 1 July 2027.”

Buller’s drinking, storm and wastewater services will be delivered through the new water service delivery model from 2027/28.

“We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to provide feedback during this consultation. Community feedback plays an important role in our decision-making processes” concludes Mr Blom.

-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 time of publication. Changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information.