18 October 2022
As advised recently by the Chief Ombudsman, we are today releasing a draft document on Featherston’s wastewater treatment plant options that Wellington Water provided Council staff in 2021. It has not previously been shared with elected members or the public.
In the normal course of our business, we exchange a lot of information with internal and external parties that isn’t generally shared with the public. This is because most of it is information gathering at an early stage and officers are yet to form an opinion or recommendation. And it would also be counter-productive for any business to undertake its day-to-day operations in that way.
This case is no different as the information, when reviewed by Council officers, was assessed as not being ready for any recommendation to Council because two of the options couldn’t be consented and two were unaffordable to ratepayers and Council. It is normal practice that if such information has not been seen or reviewed by Council that it not be released to the general public.
We have since received the Chief Ombudsman’s recommendation to release this information and we respect the outcome.
We are therefore releasing the information in full today.
The Council has always tried to engage consistently and transparently and is taking further steps to provide more information to the public on its decision-making processes. This will include holding workshops and meetings in public wherever possible, proactive release of critical documents on our website, and public release and discussion of timelines and project plans on specific major projects.
We thank the Ombudsman for the opportunity to reflect on their ruling and the time to provide our response.
Attachments:
https://swdc.govt.nz/wp-content/uploads/0_1-582427-5082106.pdf
https://swdc.govt.nz/wp-content/uploads/Response-03.08.22.pdf
https://swdc.govt.nz/wp-content/uploads/0_1-582427-5125884.pdf
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