Water use falls in Christchurch as residents fear new charges
From reporter Tina Law:
Christchurch residents are using less water as the threat of being chargedhits home.
The city council says water use has decreased by more than 10% since charges for using too much were introduced, saving millions of litres.
The council introduced an excess water charge in October after making the decision to push ahead with the scheme in 2021.
The first bills are due to be sent out later this month, but people have already been reducing how much they use.
According to figures supplied by the council, the average daily water use per household has consistently dropped each month since April, compared to the same period the previous year.
Last month, residents used on average 645 litres of water, compared to 767 litres in January 2022, a 16% decrease.
May saw the biggest monthly year-to-year drop so far, of 26%.
Under the new rules, people will be charged a fixed rate of $1.35 for every 1000 litres they use over the 700-litre limit, which is the equivalent of 100 toilet flushes.
Bills will not be sent out for $25 or less, so people will have to use more than 900 litres each day over 90 days to receive a bill. Once a bill goes above $25, the person will be charged for all usage above 700 litres.
It is not yet known how many people will get a bill, but the average charge is likely to be $83 and the maximum about $400.
A council spokesperson said it was great to see the reduction in water use across the district.
“Millions of litres of water have been saved since we started a campaign to encourage residents to check and reduce their water use.”
Some of the savings are due to residents finding and fixing leaks on their properties.
“Some of these leaks were resulting in hundreds of thousands of litres of water being wasted each week.”
The council hopes water use will continue to decrease over the coming months.
However, some residents have labelled the charge as unfair, especially since almost a quarter (25,295) of Christchurch households will not be charged because they share a meter with their neighbours.
Mayor Phil Mauger has publicly labelled the charge “unfair”.
During an interview with Newstalk ZB last week, Mauger questioned the need for water charging now that many leaks had been fixed, including his own. He found he was using 3000 litres a day due to a leak.
Mauger, who in 2021 voted against the introduction of charging for excess water use, said he thought the matter should be referred to the annual plan and the public consulted again.
Cr Sam MacDonald has also expressed support for this to happen.
But Cr Sara Templeton said the charges were consulted on twice, with the proposal tweaked in between to make it more fair.
“Re-consulting continuously until you get the result you want seems a waste of council time and ratepayers' money.”
She said 20% of properties use 50% of the city’s water supply, meaning they were effectively subsidised by the 80% who use less water.
“It is simply not fair that a small unit in Linwood using little water subsidises a large, lush lawn in Fendalton.”
Templeton said the charge had proven that people did not reduce their water use or check for leaks without financial incentive.
“Without the reduction in use we will have to spend more money as a city drilling more bores and putting in more pump stations to keep up with use, putting rates up further.”
Poll: How important is the ability to book a doctor’s appointment online?
Hi Neighbours
Here at The Doctors we would love to hear how you prefer to book your doctor’s appointments. With busy schedules, different people find different methods easier.
For some, online booking is very convenient, you can make an appointment anytime without needing to wait on the phone. Others still prefer calling the clinic and speaking to a real person, especially if they have specific questions about their visit.
Your feedback helps us understand what works best for our patients and how we can improve access to care.
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34.9% I prefer booking online whenever possible
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26.4% Online booking is helpful but not essential
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34% I prefer calling the clinic
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4.7% I didn’t know online booking was available
A reminder this hunting season
As thousands of hunters are making their plans for autumn – the Roar – recreational firearms groups are urging hunters to always be 100% sure of their targets.
Te Tari Pureke - Firearms Safety Authority NZ, which chairs the Recreational Firearms Users Group, has begun a public information campaign reminding hunters everywhere of Rule #4 of the Firearms Safety Code: to identify their target beyond all doubt.
Director Communities and Corporate, Mike McIlraith, says there is an estimated 50,000-60,000 New Zealanders involved in big game animal hunting each year, and the Roar is the key event for many hunters each year.
“The Roar is a fantastic time of year for hunters to get out into the hills after a trophy animal but hunting safely and making sure everyone gets home in one piece, still must be the most important goal of every trip,” says Mike McIlraith.
“The consequences of not fully identifying your target beyond all doubt can be catastrophic. Our message to hunters is a really simple one: If you are not sure, then don’t shoot.”
Mike McIlraith says while hunting fatalities are thankfully rare, research has shown that misidentification of the target is the largest firearms related risk to New Zealand deer hunters, and 80% of the time this involves members of the same hunting group.
The Authority says hunters should not feel pressured to take a shot: “Instead, hunters should take the time to analyse their target, wait and see if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how many points does its antlers have? Identifying your target means never firing at sound, shape, colour or movement alone.”
Mike McIlraith says good hunters will slow down, and run through some simple mental checks:
- Can I see the whole animal, or could this be another hunter?
- Where are my hunting companions – could this be them or someone else?
- How much of the animal can you see, if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how - many points does its antlers have?
“Taking a little extra time to identify your target and check the firing zone is the key to safer hunting. No meat or no trophy is better than no mate,” he says.
Poll: Does a savoury scone require cheese on top, or folded inside?
Help settle the great kiwi debate ... cheese on top, or folded inside?
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76.5% Inside!
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23.5% On top!
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