Three Waters - Western Star column
Originally published as a column in The Western Star
I had the pleasure of visiting Western Southland last week.
The productive farmland, the rolling hills, lambs and calves out enjoying the sun - it was an idyllic scene.
But there are dark clouds on the horizon for communities in rural areas like this, with the Government’s three-waters reforms set to change the future management of our water resources forever.
One of the big issues is that people simply don’t understand the implications of these reforms.
Put plainly, they are nothing short of an asset-grab by the Government. You, as ratepayers, have invested millions of dollars over many decades in developing and maintaining local drinking, waste and stormwater systems – these are the three waters.
Now the Government wants to take these assets over, strip local control away from communities and local councils, and put power into the hands of four regional authorities. None of which will be based anywhere near Southland, I might add.
Of course we all know that nothing good has come out of centralisation for Southland - whether it’s health, education or water – we tend to get ignored and forgotten.
I strongly believe it is better to keep local water assets in local control, and protect community decision-making.
Labour’s plan would bundle your assets into regional mega-entities and put community control at arm’s length.
Many councils around the country don’t support these reforms and many have called for a pause, but Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta has completely ignored their pleas.
National would reverse these reforms. We have launched a petition which demands that the Government stop asset grab and the more people who sign it and make a stand, the stronger position we are in to fight them.
I encourage everyone who has concerns about 3-waters to sign the petition now.
https://www.national.org.nz/stop-the-three-waters-asset-grab
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