Information Disclosures

Introduction

The Commerce Commission has been appointed as the Economic Regulator for Water Services in Aotearoa New Zealand. As a water service provider, Stratford District Council (Council) and the future Stratford Waters Internal Business Unit (SWIBU) will be subject to economic regulation by the Commerce Commission.

The Commerce Commission has released the Water Services Information Disclosure Determination 2026 (Determination) pursuant to Section 52P of the Commerce Act 1986, which requires Council to disclose the following information

Dividends Policy

This disclosure is required under clause 4.6 of the Determination.

The Local Government Act 2002 prohibits Council, as a territorial authority, to pay dividends to shareholders or equity holders.

Therefore, Council does not currently have a dividends policy for its water services activities.

Policy for funding growth

This disclosure is required under clause 4.7 of the Determination.

Council’s Revenue and Financing Policy stipulates that any additional capital expenditure required to fund growth related projects will be funded from financial contributions under the Resource Management Act 1991.

Pursuant to Section 102(2) of the Local Government Act 2002, Council has a Development and Financial Contributions Policy that governs the application of financial contributions as a condition of resource consents.

Council does not require development contributions under Section 198 of the Local Government Act 2002, and does not administer a development contributions policy under section 201. This is due to the complex methodology imposed by the legislation and the requirement to demonstrate growth in order to apply and collect development contributions.

Charges

This disclosure is required under clauses 4.8 – 4.9 of the Determination.

Council administers a Charges for New Wastewater Network Connections Policy, outlining the wastewater connection process and associated charges.

Council also has a Wastewater Connection Policy outlining requirements for connection to optimise infrastructure utilisation.

Council requires application fees to be made payable by property owners when connecting into the water services network, which is stipulated in the Fees and Charges.

Infrastructure Funding and Financing (IFF) Levies

This disclosure is required under clause 4.10 of the Determination.

Council does not collect any IFF levies under Section 7(1) of the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act 2020.