Survey on local government reforms will close soon
Published on 26 July 2022
More than 570 residents have responded to a survey on three waters and local government reform conducted by Whanganui District Council this month.
Chief executive David Langford says preliminary results from the survey helped to inform the council’s submission to the government’s select committee on the Water Services Entities Bill last week.
He says the survey is open until 5.00pm on Saturday 30 July and responses received this week can still contribute to the council’s submission.
Mayor Hamish McDouall says he and David Langford will be heading to Wellington to present the submission in person. “We’ll have a further opportunity there to raise any additional concerns that may have come through the survey responses.”
Initial analysis of the survey results showed that more than 87% of respondents stated they opposed the government’s proposed amalgamation of council water services. More than 72% opposed the cross-subsidisation of water services and only wanted to pay for services within their own community.
Mayor Hamish McDouall says, “Whanganui District Council opposes the compulsory amalgamation of our water services. We are concerned about the loss of local control over our water infrastructure and the way the Awa Tupua legislation would be recognised under these proposals.”
He says the council’s six-page submission raises these concerns and covers off other issues it wants resolved.
The submission recommends that the proposed Better Off Funding should be fully funded by central government with local communities having absolute discretion on how best to use these funds.
It advocates for a rigorous process for considering any divestment proposals for water services and expresses concern that Whanganui’s local voice may be diminished, with impacts seen in infrastructure planning, responsiveness of services and loss of expertise to larger centres.
A key recommendation of the submission is that stormwater not be included within the proposed water services entities, or at least have a delayed entry.
Read or download the council’s submission on the government’s Water Services Entities Bill
Complete the survey by 5.00pm on Saturday 30 July.
ENDS