Council analysing Southern Water Done Well submissions

Clutha District Council is gearing up to consider public submissions and decide on a future water services delivery model at a Council Meeting on Thursday 10 July 2025.

Council had received 393 submissions as part of the month-long Southern Water Done Well (SWDW) consultation, seeking feedback from residents and ratepayers that finished on 6 June.

Council was now in the process of analysing the submissions in detail which will be publicly available for the decisions council meeting in July.

Mayor Bryan Cadogan said councillors had expressed their frustration at the distortion of the process.

“With a distinct manipulation of the natural flow of public sentiment with a bundle of over 40 being submitted by one person and numerous multiple submissions.

“The process is not a referendum, and each submission will be considered on its merits,” Mayor Cadogan said.

This consultation process is guided by legislation, in particular the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) 2024.

CE Steve Hill said a submission represented an individual’s or organisation’s view to be considered along with the legislation, regulations, expert advice, and evidence.

“A significant number of submitters preferred Option 3 to keep water services within Council (78 %).”

He said submissions were considered on their merits.

“Council may consider a well-reasoned submission with evidence to be more effective than multiple submissions without evidence.”

He also noted that a submission did not constitute a vote in a referendum on the matter.

Below is the submitter preference data on the water service delivery options. Full submissions will also be available to read on Council’s website.

Note 1: Preliminary data subject to review.

Note 2: Multiple submissions are where a submitter made 2 or 3 submissions with the same choice of water services delivery option – with only the duplicate/s choice being removed.