This conversation is about the day-to-day operations of our wastewater services. We need to talk to you about the operation of our wastewater services in the face of the risks and challenges including the environmental and financial risks.

This conversation is about the management of our wastewater services only. It is about the stewardship of a $400m service network and the future provisions that ensure we have a stable, reliable and safe wastewater service.

Please do not confuse this with the conversation on the Rotorua wastewater treatment plant upgrade and the treated wastewater release point option. This is a separate conversation and is on hold while we await a decision from the Environment Court.

Our key aim is to ensure that we have stable, reliable and safe wastewater services now and in the years ahead.

• Stable means the condition of the critical part of the network does not deteriorate.
• Reliable means the reliability of the service and that no unforeseen shock events disrupt the service for users.
• Safe means that shock events do not cause unreasonable safety risks to our communities.

The proposal can be likened to car insurance. We currently have 'third party' but we actually need to have full coverage. We need to ensure we have the right cover to protect the network and ensure operations are managed to a level that is stable, reliable and safe. And we need a level of protection that will not cripple the district in the event of a major shock event.

Why we proposed this

We’ve listened to the changing expectations of our community, you have told us that you desire to be connected to a reliable and highly effective wastewater system, one that also meets environmental standards and effectively addresses cultural impact concerns.

Council has identified a number of reasons for this proposal. The proposal is an opportunity for us to achieve objectives that the current service delivery method does not and cannot provide. The proposal makes it possible to:

• retain Council ownership of the assets and the direct control of the level of service, making sure that the Council remains accountable to our communities for reliably delivering this service
• address the challenges and risks, such as higher treatment standards and the reduction of contamination risk to freshwater, to meet community expectations in terms of growth aspirations, community health and wellbeing
• achieve cost certainty
• achieve reliable operations and service maintenance, through a whole of network management model and leveraging new technology wherever possible to extend the assets lives.