South Wairarapa (SWDC) and Carterton (CDC) District Councils are partnering to host a public workshop focused on exploring options for the Local Water Done Well initiative, at the Waihinga Centre, Martinborough at 9am, Thursday 17 October.
All councils are required to submit water service delivery plans to the Government by September 2025. To achieve this, councils may work alone or with other councils. Councils need to decide on their approach to these plans by the end of 2024. These decisions will shape the next steps for water service delivery across the region.
Participants will hear from each project team on the different pathways for water service delivery, with two reports to be discussed: one from a Wellington Regional project team (the nine Wellington region councils, along with Horowhenua District Council), and a second from a provincial team with representation from the three Wairarapa Councils, along with Tararua District Council. This four-council option is known as Wai + T.
CDC Chief Executive Geoff Hamilton, who will be co-chairing the workshop with SWDC Chief Executive Janice Smith.
The workshop will see South Wairarapa and Carterton District elected representatives will hear from both project teams on their approach and findings. Masterton District Council is holding a similar workshop on Friday 18 October.
After workshopping the reports this week, the Wai + T project team will be tasked with taking comments back to finalise their report. This will be formally presented at the three Wairarapa councils next ordinary meetings scheduled for 30 October where a recommendation will be provided for elected members to consider whether to progress with the ten-council Wellington Regional approach or not.
The 17 October workshop will be livestreamed via South Wairarapa District Council’s YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@southwairarapadistrictcoun4143].
The public can observe the workshop but are not able to participate, ask questions, or comment.