Posts by The Press
921 days ago

Billions of litres continue to be lost from leaky Christchurch water pipes

The Team Reporter from The Press

Picture your bathtub filled with water. Now picture it in the world’s largest warehouse next to another 82 million water-filled bathtubs.
That is how much water is estimated to have leaked out of Christchurch’s drinking water pipes in the last financial year.

In 2020-21 the city, excluding Banks Peninsula, collectively used 57.1 billion litres of water. From this, the council estimates about 13.1b, or 23 per cent, was lost to leakage.

Pipe renewals have been postponed in recent years due to post-quake work and wellhead repairs in a bid to remove chlorine, the council said.

The new water loss data comes as the Government tries to push on with controversial water infrastructure reforms – which, if they go ahead, would take control of the pipes, reservoirs and other infrastructure away from councils and give it to large independent regional entities.

The council’s water boss, Helen Beaumont, said the council was hitting a point now where different pipe materials, installed at different times, were reaching the end of their usable life. A significant number of pipes would require renewal over a short period, she said.

Read the full story here.

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More messages from your neighbours
3 hours ago

The perfect treat this Mother's Day

Sunday Star Times

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3 days ago

Poll: What could the Christchurch City Council fund if it didn't have to pay GST on rates?

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger says GST on rates, currently taken by central government, would be better spent locally.

The comments follow an Infometrics analysis that found over $1.1 billion of rates revenue nationwide was collected by the Government in 2022 as GST.

According to Infometrics, $88.5m of that came from Christchurch city ratepayers. It would be enough to save the Christ Church Cathedral from ruin; restore the Dux de Lux seven times over; cover both the Art Centre and Orana Wildlife Park’s request for regular public funding for over 26 years; contribute to light rail in Greater Christchurch; or get the South Library rebuild completed.

Read the full story by reporter Sinead Gill here and share your thoughts in the comments below. (Note: Subscription required. You can still read two free stories a month if you're not a ThePress.co.nz subscriber).

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What could the Christchurch City Council fund if it didn't have to pay GST on rates?
  • 20.3% Light rail
    20.3% Complete
  • 4.5% South Library
    4.5% Complete
  • 41.4% Orana Wildlife Park
    41.4% Complete
  • 11.3% The Arts Centre
    11.3% Complete
  • 3.8% Dux de Lux
    3.8% Complete
  • 13.5% Christ Church Cathedral
    13.5% Complete
  • 5.3% Something else (share your thoughts in the comments)
    5.3% Complete
133 votes