Letters to the editor: Three Waters reform inspires debate among readers

Three Waters reform has inspired wide-ranging views from readers. Photo / Getty

OPINION

In reply to Bill Capamagian's letter concerning Three Waters reforms (Letters, Sept 29): The great majority of New Zealand's local councils face huge costs in order to bring their water supplies up to acceptable international standards.

The consequent burden on local ratepayers would be immense in many cases, so the idea is to place the cost onto the taxpayer.

This means, in effect, that wealthier cities would be subsidising smaller rural councils.

I am neither for nor against this principle but in the case of Tauranga, for example, it would relieve ratepayers of the cost of maintaining their water system.

As for giving previous councillors any say in the matter, that must be surely tongue-in- cheek.

Finally, waiting for a future National government to 'rectify' the actions might take a while, given the current state of the opposition.

Ian Gerrard
Katikati

Reform or Takeover

I agree with Bill Capamagian's letter, and with Merepeka Raukawa-Tait (Opinion, Sept 29) that it is time for National to speak out about this taking of 29-30 per cent of local government assets - wastewater, drinking water and stormwater.

These are fundamental issues for a healthy society, be it individual, community, city or country.

Billions of dollars have been invested throughout NZ over the last 100 years by local government and ratepayers have paid.

These are fundamental services to local households, communities and cities, and to give them to four gigantic entities throughout New Zealand is a huge mistake.

Wellington needs to listen to what people are saying.

Believe me, they are worried. The Government held meetings with iwi but none with council's communities.

But there is a backlash occurring and I am sure Labour will not go down this ridiculous path if it means it has to mandate to push it through.

The Labour Party has the numbers in Parliament but if it means failure at the next election, I am sure this stupid charade will not continue.

Margaret Murray-Benge
Bethlehem

Water reforms too much

It's obvious now, in my view, that the Government has no intention of allowing councils to opt out of its Three Waters takeover.

The Government has demonstrated its ability to swiftly carry out decisions while taking no prisoners.

In terms of the Tauranga City Council commission, the Government put together a very accomplished team, demonstrating to the rest of New Zealand that councils should get back to basics and look after the infrastructure of the cities.

This, however, is too much.

We, in Tauranga, have delicious water, and while our stormwater and sewerage systems may be nearing capacity - that's the limit they were designed to - they can cope for the foreseeable future as long as we don't open up too much more land for subdivision.

We certainly don't need a further layer of bureaucracy to the existing systems.

Dan Russell
Tauranga

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