Tasman District Council received $5.64 million in December 2022 from Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) to benefit the wider community and iwi outcomes through tranche one of the Government’s Three Waters Better Off Support Package.
This funding was part of allocation to the Council and the Tasman community in recognition of the significant transfer of responsibility for three waters service delivery.
Over the last three years, we’ve been pleased to provide a number of environmental, infrastructure and recreation opportunities with the assistance of Better Off Funding from central government.
Better Off Funding initially supported the goals of the Three Waters programme by helping local government to invest in the wellbeing of their communities. We received a Better Off Funding package of $5.64 million in 2022.
While Three Waters has since evolved into Local Water Done Well, we have gained real benefits from the funding we received. We are now at a stage where visible outcomes are emerging for the community to see and enjoy.
Of the 31 projects which were allocated Better Off Funding – eight remain active, while two other projects which did not progress had their funding redirected to boost other projects.
Of the $5.64 million, we have so far spent $4,693,193 as of September 2025.
This year alone, Better Off Funding has helped with improvements to Moutere Hills Community Centre, the Motueka Water Supply project, and providing a user-friendly online version of the Tasman Resource Management Plan (TRMP). We were also able to round out landscaping at Motueka Library Te Noninga Kumu.
We are looking forward to seeing the remaining balance used to bring about some great outcomes, including at Kingsland Forest Park, Local Water Done Well implementation, water service improvements to Kaiteriteri and Dovedale, and our iwi capability programme.
For some projects that are underway, you can click on the project title to link to more information.
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Teapot Valley Water Main Renewal Project |
Renewal of the water supply rising main from the Teapot Valley Booster Pumping Station to the property connection at Teapot Valley Road. The upgrade aims to improve the reliability and performance of the water supply infrastructure in the area. |
$237,246 |
|
An E-plan for the Tasman Resource Management Plan (TRMP) |
Check out the TRMP online(external link). |
$65,000 |
|
Catchment management enhancement initiatives |
Including wetland restoration |
~$200,000 |
|
River Management Plan Development |
For the Motueka area |
$105,000 |
|
Tasman Climate Action Plan initiatives |
|
$25,000 |
|
Waimea Community Facility |
Feasibility work and detailed design for a new community recreation centre for Wakefield/Brightwater |
$200,000 |
|
Motueka Community Pool |
Detailed design |
$100,000 |
|
Te Noninga Kumu / Motueka Library |
Complete basic landscaping, including shrubbery and bark garden, a concrete pathway, grassing and seating |
$70,000 |
|
Tapawera Community Hub |
Feasibility work, community engagement and detailed design for a new community centre |
$50,000 |
|
Moutere Hills Community Centre |
Bring forward planned upgrade works including new changing rooms and sanitary services for the centre |
$140,000 |
|
Whai Oranga Wellbeing Centre |
Contribute to Te Kotahi Charitable Trust’s development of a business case for a new Whai Oranga wellbeing centre, jointly with Nelson City Council |
$75,000 |
|
Marae contributions |
Onetahua Marae - contribution to facility upgrade programme |
$100,000 |
|
Murchison Pump Track & Playground |
Upgrade bike track behind the recreation centre and install basic playground equipment |
$250,000 |
|
Delivery of recreation and cultural priorities from the plan |
$435,000 |
|
|
Kingsland Forest Park |
Increase planned level of native planting, install a new toilet, picnic table and/or seating and a water refill station |
$555,000 |
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Programmes in Motueka and a joint communication and engagement plan with Nelson City Council |
$358,000 |
|
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Programmes in Richmond and a joint communication and engagement plan with Nelson City Counci |
$358,000 |
|
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Programmes in Richmond aiming to create safer, healthier and more people-friendly streets. |
$166,500 |
|
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Programmes in Māpua aiming to create safer, healthier and more people-friendly streets. |
$166,500 |
|
|
Pōhara shared path |
Detailed design, engagement and construction of new shared path (MBIE co-funded) |
$160,000 |
|
Kaiteriteri Estuary Shared Path |
Detailed design, engagement and construction of new shared path (MBIE co-funded) |
$330,000 |
|
Motupipi Street footpath extension |
Construction of a new concrete footpath |
$200,000 |
|
Iwi Capability Building |
Grow iwi capacity to meet engagement demands through an iwi/council cadetship scheme |
$300,000 |
|
NT Development Agency |
Investigation study, jointly with Nelson City Council, to consider feasibility economics and structure of a potential regional development entity |
$75,000 |
|
Water Services Act requirements |
Funding towards the costs to meet the new requirements |
$1,000,000 |
|
Programme management |
Supporting project delivery and reporting |
$500,000 |
It’s been two years since we received our Better Off Funding allocation from Central Government.
We’ve made good use of the initial tranche one allocation and in 2024 we have continued to make inroads investing in community facilities, recreation activities, and active and public transport projects.
The $5.64 million provided by the Department of Internal Affairs has helped implement 28 projects and initiatives around Tasman to benefit the wider community.
Of the more visible outcomes to reach completion – Murchison now has a destination pump track since the Four Rivers Flow Zone officially opened in April.
The Motupipi Street footpath extension, landscaping at Te Noninga Kumu/Motueka Library and improvements to facilities at Moturoa/Rabbit Island have added to the way communities enjoy their outdoor time.
Just as important but in more of a background capacity, the funding has also enabled business case, design, and feasibility aspects to be completed for community centres at Tapawera and Waimea South, and a Whai Oranga Wellbeing Centre for the region.
Where we have had money left over on projects, this has been transferred towards supporting water infrastructure projects, including Water Services Act delivery requirements for the Motueka water supply and Dovedale Water Treatment Plant.
Testament to the longer-term value of the funding – we still have a number of projects on the boil – including our iwi capability building programme and improvements to Kingsland Forest Park.
We’ve recently reallocated some of our unspent Better Off Funding to increase water infrastructure investment and the development of our Water Services Delivery Plans.
With the change in Government and the introduction of the Local Water Done Well programme, Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) – through Crown Infrastructure Partners – has been working alongside us to identify any opportunities to redirect unspent Better Off Funding (BOF) into water infrastructure projects.
Projects where either the whole project or components of a project have not been committed were prioritised in this decision.
A total of $713,200 will be redirected under this change.
$200,000 will benefit water supply projects in Motueka, $5,000 for installation of CCTV at Collingwood’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, while the other $508,200 will go towards establishing the water services delivery plan and establishment of a Council-controlled organisation to implement the Local Water Done Well programme.
We are aiming to start on these new projects later this year.
Tasman received $5.64 million in 2021 from DIA to benefit the wider community and iwi outcomes through tranche one of the Government’s Three Waters Better Off Support Package.
This has helped a number of worthwhile initiatives and improvements get off the ground within the region, and in many cases to completion.
Four Tasman BOF projects have been subject to the funding reallocation, although three of these have only had a partial amount redirected.
Unfortunately, we were unable to proceed with the Tākaka Skate and Skills Park within the approved completion date which meant the full $50,000 BOF provision for a feasibility study, community engagement, and design, has been redirected.
This year has seen some pleasing progress on a number of initiatives under Tasman’s Better Off Funding.
In recognition of the significant transfer of responsibility for three waters service delivery, we received $5.64 million in funding from the Department of Internal Affairs for various projects around the District to benefit the wider community.
While a second tranche of funding did not proceed, our initial allocation remained available and in 2023 we have been able to make inroads investing in community facilities, recreation activities, and active and public transport projects. Of the 25 projects on our list, 17 are in the delivery phase, with another seven at a planning or initiation stage.
One project involving contributions to Te Āwhina Marae and Onetahua Marae has been successfully completed.
The Tapawera Community Hub concept design and Urban Development Agency Projects are moving closer to completion.
There has also been positive progress on the proposed Waimea South facility to provide improved sporting, cultural, health and recreational opportunities to Wakefield and Brightwater residents.
At Kaiteriteri, a new timber boardwalk and some sections of sealed path along the coastal side of Martin Farm Road are expected to be completed shortly.
Co-funded projects have been paving the way for better transport connections at Pōhara, Māpua, Motueka and Richmond.
In 2024, we expect to make improvements to facilities in Kingsland Forest and Moturoa / Rabbit Island.
We are also excited for work to begin on a new Pump Track in Murchison. Contractors will be on site this month to prepare the site for construction in January.
The announcement of the revised Three Waters programme – Affordable Water – in April 2023 has provided a reset of what the proposed reform will involve for councils across the country, including Tasman.
This has also brought about changes to the Better Off Funding offered to councils in recognition of the significant transfer of responsibility for three waters service delivery. Under the new structure, funding under the tranche one allocation remains available and we are currently progressing these projects. However, the second tranche of funding will not proceed. Our list of potential tranche two projects to invest in had not yet been confirmed and was expected to be finalised in early 2024.
As a result, the changes have impacted three key community facilities which would have required further funding in the next phase. These are the Motueka Community Pool, the Waimea South community facility and the Tapawera hub, which were allocated funding for feasibility and design in tranche one.
The first phase aspects will still be completed, but the Council will need to consider how and when to deliver the rest of the work. We are in the early stages of developing our new long term plan and will formally consult with the community in March and April 2024.
The rest of the projects will largely be able to be completed for the community with the funding that has been provided.
A summary of the 25 projects that are being funded under this programme is below. Those with a location (although some are to be confirmed) are shown on this map.
The Council also recently added four other projects to the better off funding list, which are shown at the top of the list below.
Council accommodated these by switching part of the funding for the Kingsland Forest Park and Moturoa / Rabbit Island projects to Reserve Financial Contributions. Both these projects will still be done, but the funding changes helped reduce the rates increase for 2023/2024.
