Former Waipori body corporate chairman Daniel Williamson contacted the Otago Daily Times last month to raise concerns about residents’ ability to continue paying for and administering its ageing civic infrastructure.
Despite its location in the Clutha district, the remote former hydro village is self-administered by a body corporate of residents, which owns and controls roading, bridges and fresh and wastewater infrastructure serving about 30 homes.
Mr Williamson said following publication, he contacted the Clutha District Council to discuss the possibility of the authority adopting those utilities.
He described the meeting as "positive" and said he was "quietly optimistic" a solution could be found.
"We met with staff and councillors and discussed the council stepping in to adopt the infrastructure and what the mechanics of that might look like. It went well."
Mr Williamson acknowledged any decision to co-operate with the council would require the approval of the body corporate.
"I know there have since been follow-up meetings with our body corporate management that I wasn’t party to, but I believe the momentum and will is there to find a solution that can preserve the long-term future of Waipori for everybody."
Waipori’s external body corporate manager Darren Wright, of Pitcaithly Body Corporate Services (PBCS) in Christchurch, said he was unable to comment on discussions with the council, and referred the ODT to body corporate chairman, Waipori resident Rod Jansen.
Mr Jansen could not be contacted for comment yesterday.
Council service delivery group manager Jules Witt confirmed the council had held discussions with PBCS and other stakeholders, which he characterised as "constructive".
However, the council would not be taking any further steps until the Waipori body corporate made a formal request, he said.
"Many of the issues raised are not areas where [the council] has jurisdiction and, as such, are not issues for us to address.
"We have had no request from the Waipori Falls body corporate to adopt any infrastructure and this is an issue for them to consider in the first instance. Council would consider any request ... and the issues [raised] would be part of the considerations."
Mr Witt said incoming governmental water reforms could also have an impact.
"The Government has announced possible reforms of the water industry ... and, if these proceed, it’s likely Waipori Falls’ infrastructure would be captured as part of this process."
On August 4 the Government announced it would allocate $761million towards local authority water infrastructure upgrades during the next three years.
