The Department of Internal Affairs has advised Mackenzie District Council that further work is required to ensure the proposed Water Services Delivery Plan is compliant with the requirements of the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024.
Mackenzie District Council received a letter yesterday from the Department of Internal Affairs advising that, following review by an independent panel, Mackenzie’s Water Services Delivery Plan has been assessed as not meeting the requirements of the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024. The panel identified four areas of concern, relating to council’s ability to fund future growth requirements.
The plan must now be amended and resubmitted by the end of March 2026. The letter also notes that the Department expects Council to consider a range of options in the revised plan, including different delivery model scenarios, to ensure the financial sustainability requirements can be met.
Council will now meet with representatives from the Department of Internal Affairs to discuss in more detail the reasons for the panel’s assessment.
Once that information is available, Councillors will consider potential amendments to the plan to ensure compliance with the Act, and to ensure that safe, clean and affordable water services continue to be provided to residents across the District.