Councillors launch last-minute bid to defer Christchurch's planned excess water charges
From reporter Tina Law:
Charges for using excess water are expected to come into force from July 1, but some Christchurch city councillors have launched a last-minute bid to defer the policy.
The council decided last year, following public consultation, to charge from July this year those who use more than an average of 700 litres of water a day over a three-month period.
Thousands of homeowners across Christchurch can expect to receive a bill, but only during the summer months for most.
About 30,000 homes across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula used an average of more than 700 litres a day during the 2020-21 summer.
But the council will not be sending out bills 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.
Suburbs with the most households using more than 700 litres include Hornby (1392), Avonhead (1364), Burwood (1336), Halswell (1119) and Fendalton (1066).
Council three waters boss Helen Beaumont said 20,000 households were using more than 900 litres a day and could expect a bill if they did not reduce their use. Most of those bills would be less than $100.
The charge would be $1.35 for every 1000 extra litres used.
There will be exemptions for households with eight members or more who are using water responsibly.
However, five councillors – Sam MacDonald, James Gough, Phil Mauger, Aaron Keown and Catherine Chu – want the charges deferred.
Councillors will discuss and vote on this issue as part of next week’s annual plan sign off. Continue reading here.
Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we are having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now ⬇️
Calling All Puzzle Masters! Can You Solve This?
When John was six years old he hammered a nail into his favorite tree to mark his height.
Ten years later at age sixteen, John returned to see how much higher the nail was.
If the tree grew by five centimetres each year, how much higher would the nail be?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
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Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
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