Kawerau District Council has received Department of Internal Affairs feedback on its Water Services Delivery Plan.

Chief executive Morgan Godfery said the initial review by DIA stated: “Overall the draft plan provides a comprehensive view of how Kawerau District Council intends to provide water services through an in-house business unit.”

“The DIA feedback said the plan was clear and subject to the comments [for more information] it contained most of the information required,” Mr Godfery said.

DIA requested further information be incorporated into the plan, which aligns with the council’s strategic documents, particularly the Long Term Plan 2025-2034, Asset Management Plan and the 30-year infrastructure strategy.

The requests include further details and forecasts of population and water connections, infrastructure status and lifespan, risks, water take conservation measures, and the council’s 10-year investment strategy for three waters (drinking water, stormwater and wastewater).

“Kawerau has done water well, with 60 percent of the drinking reticulation already renewed since 2021. The remainder of the drinking water pipes will be replaced in the next four years.

“In addition, Kawerau will replace a majority of the wastewater pipe network in the coming 10 years, funded from depreciation reserves.

“Staff have reviewed the feedback, and we are now working on adding the requested information.”

Earlier in 2025, during April to May, the council received considerable feedback from the community and community partners supporting the plan for keeping an internal business unit.

The formal submission process gathered 107 submissions, of which 92 percent supported the internal business unit.