Western Bay adopts Water Services Delivery Plan

Western Bay of Plenty District Council has taken the next step in planning for safe, sustainable water services.

Councillors this week adopted the Water Services Delivery Plan and approved a Commitment Agreement, confirming the pathway toward establishing a joint Water Organisation to deliver drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services from 1 July 2027.

The adoption of the Water Services Delivery Plan means that Council will meet the Government’s 3 September deadline to demonstrate how they will comply with the new Local Water Done Well framework, which requires financially sustainable, legally compliant models of water service delivery by 1 July 2028.

Western Bay of Plenty Mayor James Denyer says the decision gives residents certainty that their most essential services will be delivered safely into the future.

“Our people need fresh drinking water, they need wastewater taken away, and they need stormwater managed. Water services are essential to life, and this Plan gives our community real confidence that these services will continue to be delivered safely, sustainably, and in line with Government requirements.”

The Plan confirms that working with Tauranga City offers the strongest pathway to long-term affordability and resilience. Financial and technical modelling showed that a multi-council Water Organisation is better placed to meet regulatory standards and future growth needs than Council operating alone.

“This has been a complex process and quite a journey. Working in partnership gives us the chance to achieve more for our communities than we could on our own. This is an important step forward, and one that provides confidence in the foundations we’re setting,” says Mayor James.

The Commitment Agreement, approved alongside the Water Services Delivery Plan, sets out how Western Bay and Tauranga City will work together to design the new organisation. It outlines key principles including affordability, transparency, environmental guardianship, and tangata whenua involvement.

The agreement is a ’rule book for discussions’ — providing direction and structure without locking in final answers at this stage. It also establishes an elected member oversight group above the two councils’ chief executives to guide the next phase of work.

Mayor James says this balance is critical as the process moves forward.

“This isn’t about making all the calls today — it’s about putting the right framework in place. It allows our chief executives to work together, identify the opportunities, and bring back proposals for how to make this organisation work for our communities. At the same time, it’s about safe water and a good outcome for our environment."

The adopted Delivery Plan will now be certified by Council’s Interim Chief Executive, Miriam Taris, and submitted to the Department of Internal Affairs before the 3 September deadline. A due diligence phase will follow, covering governance, financial, infrastructure and cultural considerations, before the Water Organisation is formally established in 2027.