Invercargill city councillors, in a majority decision, have resolved to delegate authority to the chief executive Clare Hadley to finalise and submit two key documents for the Three Waters Reform funding package to ensure its share of the $761 million funding pie is secured before the end of the month.

The ICC will get a $3.02 million grant once the signed funding agreement is returned to the Department of Internal Affairs, and a delivery plan has been signed and approved by Crown Infrastructure Partners.

Another $11.15 million of regional funding will be distributed between the three Southland councils: the Invercargill City Council, Gore District Council and Southland District Council. 

The report 'Three Waters Reform' was received as a major late item and discussed by councillors at an Infrastructural Services Committee meeting held this afternoon. 

Interim group manager - infrastructure Jane Parfitt said the council needed to progress quickly as the funding agreement and delivery plan needed to be signed off and finalised by September 30. The funding needs to be spent before March 31, 2022. 

"We are conscious that there are 67 councils in this position and we really want to get on the front foot and get these documents signed off by you to give us the authority to finalise them so we can submit them as early as we can," Ms Parfitt said.

Without submitting the documents, the ICC cannot access the funding.

The $761 million funding package was announced by the Government in July, to provide immediate post-COVID-19 stimulus to local authorities to maintain and improve drinking water, wastewater and stormwater. 

Ms Parfitt's report said "the Government's three water review highlighted that, in many parts of the country, communities cannot be confident that their drinking water is safe, or that good environmental outcomes are being achieved."

The ICC has already signed off the first stage of the funding application, the memorandum of understanding.

Now, Ms Hadley needs to work with chief executives from the Gore and Southland district councils on how best distribute the funding between the three councils.

"Discussions have already begun on that and I don't see that there would be anything other than a collaborative outcome," Ms Parfitt said.

The delivery plan must show that the funding allocations support economic recovery through job creation, maintains increases, and/or accelerates investment in core water infrastructure renewal and maintenance. 

Councillors also voted to give the chief executive authority to approve the procurement plan and award contracts for works, as the time frame to deliver the work is short. 

More upset at council

Councillors Toni Biddle and Nobby Clark and Mayor Tim Shadbolt abstained for voting, because they felt not enough time was given to properly read through the 32-page report before the meeting. 

"I'm not disputing the report, but this is a huge item... I can't vote for recommendations when I haven't read the report," Cr Biddle said. 

She said abstaining from voting was her choosing to act with integrity.

The report was uploaded by ICC staff this morning for councillors to access.

A spokesperson for the ICC said councillors were notified via email when an agenda had been updated. 

However, it seemed some councillors were not aware of the update and did not see the update until just before the meeting.

Cr Ian Pottinger said as the memorandum of understanding had already been signed off by councillors, the report "mirrors what we've already been expecting, expect it fills in the gaps."

Cr Alex Crackett said she was able to read the report this morning and was happy with the recommendations. The funding would set the council on the path of cleaning up water and stimulate the local economy as well, she said.

Cr Graham Lewis agreed with Cr Crackett. 

Cr Lesley Soper said she was also very comfortable with the recommendations and the need to progress quickly. 

"We know that the procurement of projects of this size has to be started quickly. There are 67 councils that are looking at securing this funding and we want to be absolutely on the front foot," she said.