Stratford opts for independence on future water services.

Very good news for the Stratford Community on the 24^th June 2025.

Stratford opts for independence on future water services

Stratford Councillors voted unanimously yesterday to NOT join a Taranaki Regional CCO for their water services. 183 people put in submissions and 93% opted to keep their services in house in the Stratford Region. The Post story is here:

https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360734075/stratford-opts-independence-future-water-services

We applaud the Mayor and Councillors of Stratford for listening to and supporting their community, we applaud them for putting water rates income into a separate fund to use for water infrastructure only, and we applaud them for managing their income from water rates so they are below borrowings on water services.

The Stratford Region would be disadvantaged by joining a regional scheme, and the amount of debt likely to be taken on with a new Water CCO model would burden a region who is managing their financial situation very prudently.

So, the Taranaki Region knows what Stratford has decided and they know how the Stratford community and the Elected Officials have voted.

South Taranaki has released how many people put in submissions and released the high level result. Again, the majority – almost 90% - do not want a water CCO.

New Plymouth – how are we getting along ? 

“A New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) spokesperson declined to reveal the breakdown of its 287 submissions.”

There's that word transparency again.

NPDC does not want to let the people of New Plymouth, or the rest of the Taranaki Region, know the high level result of how many voted for and against a CCO Model.

Why ?

People who selected to speak to their submission on Local Water will be presenting at the NPDC chambers next Tuesday (1^st July).

The Alliance is scheduled for the last slot of the day – the time is subject to change – but at this stage it will be around noon. There are 19 people who will be speaking about the submission they put in - starting from 9am – so if you would like to show your support, feel free to pop in and have a listen.