Upper Hutt taking proactive measures in addressing water crisis

Published on 21 January 2024

Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy has again confirmed the council's commitment to addressing the water shortage affecting the region and fulfilling its obligations to residents and ratepayers.

In response to the draft letter sent on behalf of all shareholding councils within the stipulated deadline by Mayor Campbell Barry, Upper Hutt City Council promptly provided the perceived required information.

Unfortunately, a communication breakdown has led to misconceptions, and Mayor Guppy is taking decisive action to rectify the situation.

"It is disappointing that confusion has arisen for both Wellington City Council and ourselves due to this communication breakdown, and only two of the four councils were aware an additional report was required alongside the letter,” he says.

“I am requesting a meeting with Minister Simeon Brown to discuss this matter in detail and stand ready to join other affected mayors at this meeting.”

Mayor Guppy says Upper Hutt City Council is committed to providing a comprehensive report, as requested by Minister Brown, at the earliest convenience.

Echoing Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau's sentiments, Mayor Guppy emphasised the community's expectation that central and local governments collaborate to find an effective solution to the ongoing water crisis.

The current situation in Upper Hutt involves approximately 450 registered leaks, up from an average of 150 only a year ago. This is a distressing reality for the community actively engaged in water conservation efforts.  

In late November 2023, Wellington Water requested an additional $1.1m to address the issue. Upper Hutt City Council has agreed to this additional spend contingent on receiving assurances on service delivery.

Discussions with Wellington Water are underway, and Upper Hutt City Council has requested their workplan in order to understand what is achievable and what difference this will make before proceeding with the additional funding.

Demonstrating a longstanding commitment to water resilience, Upper Hutt is the sole council in the region with year-round water restrictions.

Since mid-2023, the council has been running a successful water resilience campaign, resulting in the sale of more than 450 water tanks in the last three months, with demand for an additional 500 on a waitlist.

Deliveries of 90 tanks per week are currently expected, potentially adding to the total number of water tanks in the community by 950, storing an additional 90,400 litres in Upper Hutt.

"We understand that the community's primary concern is fixing the leaks and ensuring value for money from Wellington Water. That is precisely what we are focused on and will continue to prioritise," says Mayor Guppy.

Upper Hutt City Council remains committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to resolve the water crisis and ensure the well-being of its residents.