233Effect of adopting water services strategy

1. The effect of a water services strategy adopted by a water service provider is to provide a formal and public statement of the provider’s intentions in relation to the matters covered by the strategy.

2. A resolution to adopt a water services strategy does not constitute a decision to act on any specific matter included in the strategy.

3. A water service provider may make a decision that is inconsistent with the contents of a water services strategy.

4. If a decision of a water organisation is significantly inconsistent with, or is anticipated to have consequences that will be significantly inconsistent with, the organisation’s water services strategy, the water organisation must, when making the decision, clearly identify—

5. the inconsistency; and
6. the reasons for the inconsistency; and
7. any intention of the water organisation to amend the water services strategy to accommodate the decision.

8. However, subsection (3) does not apply to a decision of a water service provider to set a charge under section 86.

9. No person is entitled to require a water service provider to implement the provisions of a water services strategy.

10. In the case of a water services strategy adopted by a water service provider that is a territorial authority, this section applies subject to—

11. section 80 of the LGA 2002; and
12. Part 4A of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002.