Water Services Council-Controlled Organisation

Queenstown Lakes District’s new dedicated water services council-controlled organisation officially became a company on 1 July 2026, under the incorporated name QLDC 3Waters Ltd. The company has until 1 July 2027 to create a water services organisation ready to meet the new standards required for service delivery, regulatory compliance and long-term infrastructure sustainability. 

Ownership and structure

The WSCCO is 100% owned by Queenstown Lakes District Council on behalf of our hapori/communities. It has been established as a council-controlled organisation (CCO), a company structure that retains ownership and accountability with QLDC while giving day-to-day governance to an independent Board of five directors with relevant sector expertise.

QLDC as shareholder will set the organisation's strategic priorities and monitor performance through a Statement of Expectations.

Under the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025, the company cannot be sold or privatised and must comply with strict financial principles. No dividends will be paid, and any savings will be reinvested back into water services to improve infrastructure and support long-term affordability.

From 1 July 2027, the company will take over responsibility for delivering water supply, wastewater and stormwater services for the district. It will also own the water assets and associated debt and liabilities currently held by QLDC.

Until then, QLDC continues to deliver these services as normal.

About the placeholder name

QLDC 3Waters Ltd is the company's legal incorporation name. It is anticipated that a trading name will be confirmed by the end of September.

What this means for you

During the establishment year, there is no change to your water service, billing, or who to contact for day-to-day issues. Billing will continue through your QLDC rates as usual. This page will be updated as arrangements for the transition become clearer, and well before any changes to contacts or billing take effect.

If you have any questions or would like to subscribe to future updates, please get in touch at:

wscco@qldc.govt.nz

WSCCO | QLDC 3Waters Ltd is governed by an independent board of directors who bring a range of skills and expertise across water infrastructure, engineering, environmental law, finance, risk management and sustainability. Three are Chartered Members of the Institute of Directors, two hold doctorates in engineering, and most live locally here in our rohe/district.

The board must now prepare the WSCCO to meet all the new regulatory requirements and assume responsibility for delivering safe, reliable water supply, wastewater and stormwater services on behalf of QLDC and our hapori/communities from 1 July 2027.

Water reform has been on the table in Aotearoa New Zealand for almost a decade now, as successive governments have worked through how to make water services safer, more reliable, and more sustainable.

It follows nationwide challenges with ageing infrastructure, underinvestment and inconsistent service delivery. These challenges are made all the more pressing for our district by the beauty of our taiao, our lakes, mountains, and landscapes that draw so many people here, both to live and visit. That popularity is driving fast growth, with the peak day population (residents plus visitors) projected to reach 156,161 within ten years and 221,276 within 30 years, more than double the resident population.

The Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024 began the current government’s plan to address Aotearoa New Zealand’s longstanding water infrastructure challenges. It provided an opportunity for councils to review their drinking water, wastewater and stormwater to consider whether there were better alternatives to provide sustainable and efficient water services, address current challenges and lay the foundation for future improvements. Emphasis was on local decision-making and meeting economic, environmental and water quality regulatory requirements.

In July 2025, Councillors confirmed a water services council-controlled organisation (WSCCO) to introduce independent expert governance to exclusively prioritise and deliver water services in the best interests of the Queenstown Lakes District, and meet new legislation and regulatory requirements set by the Department of Internal Affairs, Water Services Authority -Taumata Arowai and the Commerce Commission.

Key dates:

• 16 July 2026: First board meeting

• 1 July 2026: Incorporation of QLDC 3Waters Limited

• 25 June 2026: Four directors appointed to the new independent board

• 7 May 2026: Dr Julian Elder appointed as WSCCO chair

• 23 February 2026: Recruitment begins for the WSCCO board

• 26 August 2025: Water Services Delivery Plan adopted by QLDC

• 31 July 2025: Queenstown Lakes District Council confirms Water Services Council Controlled Organisation (WSCCO) as its model

• 2 September 2024: The Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024 enacted requiring all councils to develop a Water Services Delivery Plan showing which model it would use to provide water services in a way that is financially sustainable and meets regulatory requirements.