Call for community views on government’s proposed Three Waters Reform
Taupō District Council is calling for the community to share their views on the future of three waters by completing a short survey at www.surveymonkey.com....
The government is currently proposing significant changes to the delivery of three waters (stormwater, wastewater and drinking water) including the creation of four publicly-owned entities to deliver these services. For the Taupō District, this would see us join with 21 other local council areas.
Every council has until late September to assess this proposal and the impacts on local communities.
Taupō District Mayor David Trewavas said while this is a government-led proposal, and council doesn’t have all the information, it is important to include community feedback at this stage in the process.
“This is about getting the conversation started. While formal consultation would be government-led, we think including your feedback at this stage is the right thing to do, as we believe our local voices are a key part of these reforms.
“What we do know is that compliance costs for water will increase significantly over time so a key consideration for us is whether we want to pay higher rates to keep ownership and control of our water assets or do we want to pay lower rates, by spreading the cost out across a wider area, but see the ownership and control of these assets sit with central government.
“The survey will allow us to better understand the community’s views on this balance of keeping costs affordable for households and retaining the delivery of three waters within council.
“This will also allow us to include our community’s views as a valuable part of what we take back to Government at the end of September,” Mr Trewavas said.
The survey closes on Wednesday 15 September to allow council time to review responses and incorporate into council’s formal response to the government’s Three Waters Reform proposal.
After this, the government has said they will consider next steps, including the process and revised timing for decision-making and consultation.
To fill out the survey please head to www.surveymonkey.com...
For more information on Three Waters you can head to taupo.govt.nz/threewatersreform or head to dia.govt.nz/Three-waters-review.
Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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59.3% Yes, supporting people is important!
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26.2% No, individuals should take responsibility
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14.5% ... It is complicated
Wild weather in the Waikato
The Waikato really copped it over the weekend, with wild weather leaving a hefty clean-up bill that may run into the millions.
While things are looking calmer in the days ahead, there are still plenty of slips and flooded roads across the district — so if you’re heading out, take it easy and stay alert.
We want to know: How did you and your whānau get on over the weekend?
Want to see what recovery will look like from here? The Waikato Times has the latest.
Ready to make the most of retirement?
From hobbies to adventures, there’s so much to enjoy!
- Explore new hobbies like gardening or painting
- Stay active with walking groups or cycling trails
- Learn something new with online courses or local classes
- Give back through volunteering or mentoring
Read the full article and take our fun quiz to find out which activities suit your personality best below!
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