Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Local Government New Zealand and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges have lamented the announcement that Three Waters Reforms will be mandatory for councils.

Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta made the announcement earlier this week, with water assets across New Zealand set to be amalgamated into four larger entities, from the country's 67 councils, with an aim to be operational by July 2024.

The new plans will include the establishment of a working group of local government, iwi and water industry experts to work though elements of the entity design.

Tauranga City Council commission chair Anne Tolley has expressed immediate concern that the no opt-out clause fails to take into account the city's community feedback.

'Our feedback to Minister Mahuta hasn't changed,” says Tolley, who was appointed to head the commission currently running Tauranga City Council by Mahuta. 'Except, to acknowledge the concern our communities will be feeling, knowing the reforms will be mandated rather than allowing voluntary participation, as had been indicated previously.”

She says the community, mana whenua and council put a lot of time and effort into providing detailed feedback on the proposed reforms and council will be seeking clarity through the new working group to address all of the concerns raised.

'There are still many details to discuss about local control, ownership of assets, mana whenua involvement, and the efficiency and cost of services under the proposed new model.”

Western Bay Mayor Garry Webber says the decision to make participation compulsory is a disappointing blow given the initial belief that reform would be optional.  

Unlike some councils, he says Western Bay Council has provided good water service to its residents by investing in infrastructure including water networks and treatment plants.

'Our assets are modern and well maintained and we are committed to ensuring this continues now and into the future.

'However we recognise that there are many councils in New Zealand who have not and so we are now faced with the challenge of bringing everyone up to required standards by July 2024.”

National MP Bridges says he is 'gutted” by today's announcement, suggesting the mandate amounts to an assets grab.

'I had hoped Labour might listen to the many voices against Three Waters changes but instead Mahuta has ignored local Mayors and New Zealanders and is going to press on,” he says.

'The changes amount to theft of council assets, won't achieve any of the gains she speaks of, and will hand effective control to a few Iwi elite. That's plain wrong.”

LGNZ president, and former Tauranga Mayor, Stuart Crosby admits the mandating of the reforms will 'sting” for some councils.

But he is pleased to see some refinement to the proposal, in response to what he calls the the sector's 'loud and clear” concerns.

'The Government has accepted this feedback and committed to developing workable solutions to these issues with the sector, which has only happened because we're at the table.”

But both Councils are concerned over how the local community will be heard on the issues of Three Waters reform, considering it is now in the hands of central government.

'We, like many councils in New Zealand are concerned about the governance arrangements, in particular the ability of local councils such as ourselves to get our voices heard,” says Western Bay Mayor Webber.  

'Based on past experiences there is no guarantee that the best laid plans will be funded centrally when there are bigger councils with bigger problems that need resolution.

'We can still do this, and will, by shifting the conversation to the outstanding issues that Government wants to resolve through the working groups. How we can influence these working groups will become clear once they are set up.”

He says Council will be moving fast to ensure the views of the Western Bay community can be presented whenever necessary to Government.

Tolley says Tauranga City Council is mindful over the uncertainty that will now fill the void regarding Three Waters feedback.

'We'll take our time to look at this carefully and will keep our communities and staff informed as best we can, while ensuring that their concerns are acknowledged and considered, and that everyone is supported throughout this process,” she says.

Mahuta stated on Wednesday that the Select Committee process will provide an opportunity to get public feedback on the reforms.

Whilst raising concerns over the reform plans and mandating, Tolley admits a change is necessary.

'Increased environmental standards for wastewater and stormwater will require expensive upgrades to meet future national standards and community expectations,” she says.

'Multiple pressures from climate change also mean that the delivery of existing levels of service will become progressively more costly.

'If we keep doing things the way we have in the past, it's likely that the future cost of Three Waters services will become unaffordable for our communities.

'It's therefore important that we participate in this process and ensure that our local interests and concerns are adequately addressed.”