Water looms as major election issue
‘‘So when people read it, they think there are no risks, when in fact there are.’’
Water is looming as a major election issue for Waipa’s local government politicians contemplating a new term on the district council.
That’s the case for Pirongia Ward councillor Claire St Pierre, who plans to centre her reelection campaign challenging a plan to form a ratepayer-owned water company.
Waipa District Council voted to work towards forming a council controlled organisation with Hamilton city and Waikato district councils to manage water resources together.
Claire St Pierre was one of four Waipa councillors who voted against the proposal.
The first-term councillor, who has an academic background in research, said forming the company was a complex issue. People needed to invest time to understand what it could mean for Waipa.
‘‘I am intending to put together a campaign website which is going to set out in more detail why I have reservations about the current proposal for an assetowning CCO.
‘‘I’ve been on the water govern- ance group since early 2014 and it’s taken all that time to get my head around the issue. So I’m not sure how you can expect the pub- lic to understand what it means for them.’’
She said a report council used to investigate the water company was ‘‘silent’’ on the risks involved.
‘‘So when people read it, they think there are no risks, when in fact there are.’’
Debt, retention of assets and the awkwardness of managing three councils, with different geographic areas and water infrastructure assets, loomed as obvious problems.
The other Waipa councillors who voted no to the CCO included Vern Wilson, Judy Bannon and Hazel Barnes.
‘‘We’re told all the growth is going to be south of Auckland and north of Hamilton, in places like Rototuna, so you would have to say that’s where all the spending is going to go in terms of water infrastructure.
‘‘So Waipa will be helping to pay for that through our rates. But if we’re independent, we can plan our own future, and put money where we want it.’’
The final decision on whether to form a new water company will be made by each of the new, incoming councils.