Waimakariri council debates reforms

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Government reform was on top of the agenda at a Waimakariri District Council meeting on Tuesday, February 7.

Councillors debated submissions on the draft future of local government report, and two Three Waters reform bills.

In a draft submission prepared by senior policy analyst Temi Allinson, the council advocated for five year long term plans, supported the concept of ‘‘citizen-led participatory democracy’’, called for stronger relations between central and local government, and reiterated concern for ‘‘unfunded mandates’’.

The council chose not to give feedback on the proposal to lower the voting age to 16 in its submission.

‘‘We decided it was a matter we didn’t need to have a view on,’’ mayor Dan Gordon said.

‘‘It is before the courts, and really it is a matter for the government.’’

The Water Services Legislation Bill and the Water Services Economic Efficiency and Consumer Protection Bill caused considerable discussion with councillors raising a number of concerns.

Cr Joan Ward questioned how creating additional bureaucracy would led to lower costs.

She said the council needed to re-enforce its opposition to the proposed reforms, and she expressed concerned about the lack of transparency in the draft legislation.

She noted there was no reference in the bills requiring the new entities to be audited by Audit New Zealand.

Cr Jason Goldsworthy questioned whether the Commerce Commission was the right body to have oversight over the new Three Waters entities, as proposed in the legislation.

He noted the Commerce Commission had found concerns with the supermarket duopoly model, so how could an entity with a monopoly over three waters be subject to market competition?

Deputy mayor Neville Atkinson said the Commerce Commission was not the right body to have oversight of Three Waters.

‘‘It needs to have the Auditor-General over the top of it.’’

Cr Niki Mealings noted there was no guarantee for drinking water to be supplied in the proposed legislation, if it was to be treated like other utilities such as power or phone.

‘‘Will people get their water cut off if they can’t pay their bill?’’

Cr Philip Redmond noted the proposed legislation did not address the question of ownership of water.

‘‘Is that a deliberate omission? There are differing views on what ownership of water means and I wonder if this bill is opening the way for an alternative to come in.’’

Submissions on the draft future of local government report close on February 28, while the Three Waters reforms submissions close on February 12.

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