1 week Ago By Staff
Aucklanders will avoid a staggering 25.8 per cent water rates rise due to the coalition Government implementing its Local Water Done Well policy. The model, which is described as “financially sustainable”, was unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s governing body.
It will see a “more manageable” increase of 7.2 per cent instead while retaining local control of water assets. The announcement was made at a joint press conference at Watercare’s central interceptor construction site today by Prime Minister and Botany MP Christopher Luxon with Local Government Minister and Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown and Auckland mayor Wayne Brown.
“Under the Local Water Done Well solution we have announced today, Aucklanders will avoid the 25.8 per cent water rate increases previously proposed by Watercare,” Minister Brown says. “We have worked closely with mayor Brown and Auckland Council, and are thrilled to announce Watercare’s more financially sustainable model will ensure water rates remain affordable both now and into the future.
“The previous [Labour] Government wasted $1.2 billion over several years to deliver a water reform plan that was wasteful, took away local control, and was divisive. “It was resoundingly rejected by voters.
Some said Local Water Done Well could not be done. “But within the space of just six months, the coalition Government has worked with Auckland Council on designing a new model for Watercare.” The new model means Watercare will be ab.
