The Gore District Council today took the first step in the lengthy process to transfer ownership of the Otama Rural Water Scheme to consumers.
The Council has notified its intention to promote the Gore District Council (Otama Rural Water Supply) Bill to Parliament as a Local Bill. It is the start of a process that could result in specific legislation allowing for the transfer of ownership of the scheme from the Council to a company.
The notice follows a referendum last year that saw consumers vote in favour of governance and management of the scheme going to a new consumer-owned company.
Gore District Chief Executive Stephen Parry said transferring ownership of the scheme to a company is prohibited under the Local Government Act 2002, hence the need for the Bill.
echo adrotate_group(4, array("fallback" => 0, "weight" => 0, "site" => "no")); The purpose of the Bill includes specifying the process for the transfer of ownership to Otama Rural Water Ltd.
Once the inspection period for the Bill closes, which is 22 June, it can be introduced to Parliament. This will be done by New Zealand First MP Mark Patterson.
The process from there involves the Bill being put on the Parliamentary Order Paper to have its first reading. The timing for this will vary, depending on what else is happening in Parliament. Local Bills are generally considered on every second sitting Wednesday.
At the first reading, there is a vote to determine if the Bill should be referred to select committee. If the Bill does not pass the first reading, it is knocked out and the process stops.
If the Bill gains support, it will go to the Environment and Local Government select committee. The committee will take and hear submissions from the public then report back to Parliament within six months, although this time frame can be amended.
The Bill has to pass two more readings in Parliament before it is ready to gain Royal Assent and become an Act. Amendments to the Bill can be made after the first and second reading.
Costs associated with the transfer of ownership are being covered by scheme consumers.