In an article from The Southland Times one of my colleagues, Mayor Bryan Cadogan, has expressed a sentiment that has many of my fellow Mayors nodding their heads in agreement - I’m a mayor not a magician when it comes to identifying and implementing solutions to the challenge of water.
The entrenched thinking around how we fund our “three waters” – drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater – will lead us to a financial crisis point if there isn’t a re-set.
This isn’t just hype. It’s a stark reality that we must confront with the same determination and focus that we expect from an All Black team looking to win a World Cup.
Water, for our district, is the linchpin allowing businesses to create new jobs, enabling growth and, most crucially, expand housing options for our people.
The current model of targeted rates, if unchanged will place an unbearable financial burden on our communities by the end of the decade.
It’s not only the need to increase the number of our treatment plants, we currently have seven, it’s also the cost of consenting, meeting the ever increasing water standards set by central government via the water services regulator Taumata Arowai on our existing plants.
The only way to do this is by constantly upgrading our water infrastructure.
Without significant investment and innovation, we risk compromising not only our environment and economic future but most importantly the wellbeing of our people.
This is not a problem that can be deferred or downplayed. It is the key issue that my fellow councillors and I, are focused on, and this is not just a concern for the present council. It will dominate our agenda for the next 5-8 years.
We are at a crossroads where the decisions we make today will shape the well-being of our communities for generations to come.
Kicking the can down the road isn’t an option we need, and we must take action.
The path forward is challenging but clear. We must embrace new technologies, invest in robust infrastructure, and prioritise water management.
And, critically, we need central government to actively work alongside us with alternative funding models, and realistic timeframes to allow us to meet the needs of our communities.
It’s time for decisive action and bold leadership. After all, it’s not just about water – it’s about our nation’s future.
Ngaa mihi, kind regards,
Mayor Jacqui
