Roll-out of Auckland City's Waste Water Pricing Could Shock

Not telling Auckland ratepayers how they will be charged for wastewater leaves water charges in limbo, says Auckland City Councillor Richard Northey

Councillor Richard Northey said: “The government has found that setting a pricing policy for the disposal of waste water would create winners and losers, so they have quickly resorted to the too-hard basket.

“If they get control of the new Auckland Council, John Banks and his Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) mates might apply Auckland city’s extreme and arbitrary user pays system for wastewater across the region. In Auckland city, the actual amount of wastewater returned to the system is not measured for residential properties, so an arbitrary percentage of water supply is charged. This discriminates against those who recycle most of their wastewater, for instance for gardening, and also imposes an unfair burden on large families. Setting an arbitrary annual charge on all households would be unfair to older people living alone and lets off big industrial water users lightly.”

“If John Banks and C&R councillors get their way and shift wastewater payments across the region from rates to user-pays not only would pensioners and other low-income people have to pay more for water, but they would no longer be eligible for the rates rebate scheme to help pay for it because it would no longer be part of their rates but an additional impost on them.”

Councillor Glenda Fryer said "This announcement by the Leader of the Act Party is to help John Banks and C&R election candidates by taking water out of the Super city debate. It is one less policy Banks will seen to be 'all over the paddock' on as he changes his policies to suit what his focus groups are telling him.”

City Vision Labour candidates are advocating for North Shore, Rodney and Waitakere’s system of including wastewater charges with the rest of the general rate as with roads, footpaths, parks, libraries and most Council services.