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Hearings Committee - Bylaws and Policies

Proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026

MINUTES

 

Minutes of an ordinary meeting of the Consultation Hearings held in the Council Chambers, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, The Octagon, Dunedin on Friday 22 May 2026, commencing at 9:30 a.m.

 

PRESENT

 

Chairperson

Cr John Chambers

 

Members

Cr Mickey Treadwell

Cr Brent Weatherall

 

 

 

IN ATTENDANCE

David Ward, General Manager 3 Waters, Property and Urban Development; Scott Campbell, Regulation and Policy Team Leader, 3 Waters; Neva Vaitupu, Network Operations Manager, 3 Waters; Jacinda Baker, Senior Policy Analyst, 3 Waters; Katherine Quill, Policy Analyst, 3 Waters; Cr Hall; Cr Mayhem

 

 

Governance Support Officer

Jean Cockram

 

                                                                           

 

 

 

1          karakia timataka

 

Cr Treadwell opened the meeting with a karakia timataka.

2          Apologies

 

There were no apologies.

3          Confirmation of agenda

 

Moved (Cr John Chambers/Cr Mickey Treadwell):

That the Committee:

Confirms the agenda without addition or alteration

Motion carried (CH/2026/008)

 

 

4          Declarations of interest

 

Members were reminded of the need to stand aside from decision-making when a conflict arose between their role as an elected representative and any private or other external interest they might have.

 

 

Moved (Cr John Chambers/Cr Mickey Treadwell):

That the Committee:

 

a)         Notes the Elected Members' Interest Register; and

b)        Confirms the proposed management plan for Elected Members' Interests.

Motion carried (CH/2026/009)

 

5           SUMMARY OF CONSULTATION ON PROPOSED WATER SUPPLY BYLAW 2026 AND STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS ON MATTERS RAISED

 

A report from 3 Waters provided a summary of the submissions received during consultation  on the proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026.

 

The report noted that 27 submissions had been received, of which 18 were received during the consultation period from 2 March to 2 April 2026, four were received late, and a further five were received during additional consultation from 29 April - 10 May 2026 on a specific amendment to the proposed Bylaw.

 

The 3 Waters Regulation and Policy Team Leader (Scott Campbell), Network Operations Manager (Neva Vaitupu), Senior Policy Analyst (Jacinda Baker) and  Policy Analyst (Katherine Quill) responded to questions about the report.

 

 

Moved (Cr John Chambers/Cr Mickey Treadwell):

That the Committee:

Accepts the four late submissions.

Motion carried (CH/2026/010)

 

6          SPEAKING SCHEDULE

 

Lydia Pattillo – 3 Peaks Mountain Race – 1295659

 

Ms Lydia Patillo spoke in her capacity as Race director of the 3 Peaks Mountain Race to strongly support the DCC staff recommendation to remove burdensome restrictions on trail runners accessing the catchment area for racing and training. She commented that trail runners are respectful of environment and University students conducting research had found no evidence that trail runners had a negative impact on downstream catchments.

 

Ms Patillo responded to questions.

 

Steve Tripp – Inch Events = 1295658

 

Mr Steve Tripp, Director of Inch Events, spoke to his submission strongly supporting the DCC staff recommendation to make access for trail runners “restricted” rather than “controlled”, which he considered a pragmatic solution for protecting water quality while enabling Dunedin to continue to develop as a top trail running destination.

 

Mr Tripp responded to questions.

 

Michael Gibson – 1295646

 

Mr Michael Gibson expressed concern that the Bylaw, as drafted, does not protect the City’s water from privatisation and cited the British example of harm from water privatisation. He argued that terms used in the Bylaw are vague and imprecise and sought inclusion of a clear statement that the Council would not impose water meters and user charges on residents.

 

Mr Gibson responded to questions.

 

Lloyd Reddington – Green Hut Track Group – 1296267

 

Mr Lloyd Reddington spoke to the Green Hut Track Group’s submission on behalf of volunteers who clear and maintain DCC and DOC walking tracks in the Silverstream catchment area. He argued that it would be counter-intuitive to restrict human access to catchments when there are acknowledged problems caused by wild animals. He urged Council to permit low impact human activity to enable continued enjoyment of precious natural heritage and felt that amendments proposed by staff offered a workable solution.

 

Mr Reddington responded to questions.

 

 

Moved (Cr John Chambers/Cr Brent Weatherall):

That the Committee:

Adjourns the meeting

Motion carried (CH/2026/011)

 

The meeting adjourned at 10.08 am and reconvened at 10.23 am.

 

Rosie Olsen - Predator Free Dunedin - 1295976

 

Ms Rosie Olsen spoke to the submission from Predator Free Dunedin (PFD). PFD supports the protection of water catchments but is concerned that access approvals could become onerous. It seeks  practical and supportive access processes. A particular concern related to possible future use of toxic agents in catchment areas. PDF would like to see their use assessed on a case-by-case basis, consistent with national guidance issued by the Ministry of Health.

 

Ms Olsen responded to questions.

 

Kurt Bowen – Patersons Land Professionals - 1295649

 

Mr Kurt Bowen spoke to the submission from Patersons Land Professionals. While pleased that several points in his submission had already been taken on board, he urged consideration of

 

two outstanding matters: inclusion of some level of exceptional allowance in clause 5.2 (regarding no new connections to properties lying out of water supply area); and an explanatory note in clause 5.2.5 to indicate that a bespoke solution could be considered under specific circumstances.

 

Mr Bowen responded to questions.

 

 

Moved (Cr John Chambers/Cr Brent Weatherall):

That the Committee:

Adjourns the meeting

Motion carried (CH/2026/012)

 

The meeting adjourned at 10.51 am and reconvened at 11.00 am.

 

Darryl Sycamore – Terramark Limited – 1294845

 

Mr Darryl Sycamore spoke to the submission from Terramark Limited. He indicated that he was happy with the proposed amendments to the Bylaw and his greatest remaining concern was the blanket prohibition on new out-of-zone connections, which he considered a severe position. He provided several examples of apparent anomalies on the border of water supply areas and argued for processes that allowed case-by-case consideration of out-of-zone connections. While recognising that the question of the 2011 bylaw was out of scope for this hearing, he noted that there was a legal opinion that it has expired and argued that any connections approved since its expiry should be retrospectively approved.

 

Mr Sycamore responded to questions.

7

SUMMARY OF CONSULTATION ON PROPOSED WATER SUPPLY BYLAW 2026 AND STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS ON MATTERS RAISED CONTINUED

 

Following consideration of all submissions, both written and verbal, the Committee was satisfied with amendments to the Bylaw proposed by staff in a detailed “Summary of Submissions Table”.

 

 

Moved (Cr John Chambers/Cr Mickey Treadwell):

That the Committee:

Adjourns the meeting

Motion carried (CH/2026/013)

 

The meeting adjourned at 1.02 pm and reconvened at 1.19 pm.

 

 

 

Moved (Cr John Chambers/Cr Brent Weatherall):

That the Committee:

Notes that the Hearings Committee has heard and considered verbal and written submissions on the proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026.

Recommends that the Council adopts the Water Supply Bylaw 2026, as amended in the “Summary of Submissions Table”.

Recommends that the date of effect be 1 July 2026.

 

Motion carried (CH/2026/014)

 

8          KARAKIA WHAKAMUTUKA

 

Cr Treadwell closed the meeting with a karakia whakamutuka.

 

 

The meeting concluded at 1.23 pm.

 

 

 

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CHAIRPERSON