Opinion: Kiri Gillespie: Three Waters mandate makes laughing stock of councils

Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta during a press conference at Parliament, Wellington, this week. Photo / Mark Mitchell

OPINION

Love them or hate them, local councils are responsible for a lot of what goes on in our cities.

In the Bay of Plenty, our local councils look after local roads, waste collection, parks and amenities, and water services.

But stewardship of our fresh, waste and storm waters is set to be taken from them with the mandating of the Government's Three Waters Reform.

On Wednesday, Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced she was forcing through the Government's Three Waters Reform, mandating it so local councils had no option but to take part despite many having concerns.

I get it. Sometimes you have to assert power for the greater good of all. Arguably, Tauranga is a living, breathing example of this.

Following the implosion of the Tauranga City Council's elected members last year, Mahuta chose the most severe option available to appoint commissioners to take over the duties of those elected members. It was a bid to ensure the city's Long-Term Plan was delivered. And it was.

But the Government's move to mandate Three Waters – with zero formal community consultation – is alarming. I have some sympathy for our local councils over this.

Rightly or wrongly, local councils cop a lot of flack over many things - Three Waters is no exception. There have been calls for a referendum and protests in the streets. But I feel councils have effectively been the meat in the sandwich in this instance.

Local leaders were left with little more information than the public but promised there would be time for formal consultation in due course, supposedly because they believed there would be once more information was known. Now, they have egg on their face.

How embarrassing.

Some of these leaders have raised concerns the new water entities may overlook local needs in favour of other areas. It's a justified concern. Does anyone remember the slap in the face when funding was pulled for Stage 2 of the Takitimu Northern Link while the green light was given to the now-defunct Auckland Harbour Bridge cycleway?

All the while, the voices of dissent from communities concerned at Three Waters have only grown louder. But will they have any impact? The Government has made it clear it is steamrolling ahead with its plans regardless.

One has to question whether the sacrifice to democracy is worth it. Personally, I'm not convinced.

I accept something has to change with our water infrastructure but, in my view, pushing this reform through despite the immense objections and concerns raised from councils throughout New Zealand smacks of short-sightedness and arrogance.

It's only going to end in tears.