Thames-Coromandel District Council has had its Water Services Delivery Plan accepted by the government under the Local Water Done Well programme, which addresses long-standing water infrastructure challenges across New Zealand. The plan sets out how the council intends to deliver drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services over the next 10 years in a financially sustainable way while meeting government standards. The acceptance allows Thames-Coromandel District Council to continue planning for water service delivery independently.
The council initially explored forming a joint Water Services Organisation with Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council, which financial modelling suggested could save ratepayers around 500 dollars per year by 2034. However, after both Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council voted against including Thames-Coromandel District Council in a joint arrangement in August 2025, the council adopted an in-house water services delivery unit model. Western Bay of Plenty District Council cited concerns about Treaty of Waitangi settlement issues involving iwi and hapu as a reason for not including Thames-Coromandel District Council.
Community consultation held between April and May 2025 received 241 submissions, with 51 per cent favouring a joint Water Services Organisation and 46 per cent preferring an internal business unit. Affordability was identified as the key consideration for 69 per cent of submitters. The council worked with consultants MartinJenkins and M Consulting Ltd to assess options based on the 2024-2034 Long Term Plan.
Thames-Coromandel District Council has kept the option open to join a regional water services arrangement in the future if Treaty settlement issues can be resolved. The Local Water Done Well programme is the government’s framework for councils to meet new legislative requirements for water service delivery across New Zealand.
Read the full article at Thames-Coromandel District Council – News →
Source: Thames-Coromandel District Council – News. This summary was published by Input Ltd via amalgamation.nz, New Zealand’s central resource for local government amalgamation news and council merger updates.
