By-election deadline looms

Healthy Rivers has a budget which looks like ‘‘a bottomless pit’’ and threatens to undermine the lifeblood keeping the Waikato pumping.

Hamilton Residents and Ratepayers Association vice president Mischele Rhodes doesn’t have a problem with concept of the plan.

But there’s a perception the costs of it will be heaped upon Hamilton’s ratepayers while farmers unable to comply will be forced off the land.

Rhodes hopes the Healthy Rivers plan will be the trigger point to encourage city people to vote in the coming by-election for the Hamilton seat of the Waikato Regional Council.

‘‘We are very concerned about the budget for it all [Healthy Rivers], as well as the compliance costs for farmers. They’re already under a lot of pressure and face a lot of compliance rules. They may be forced off the land and it would be like killing the golden goose, in our view.’’

Rhodes reiterated she supported the concept of improving the region’s waterways but thought ratepayers had already forked out for other initiatives to do a similar job, like the Waikato River Authority.

She said it was important for voters to think about supporting a candidate who understood Healthy Rivers and in particular, its cost to ratepayers.

‘‘We’re worried there will be an expectation they’ll be asking for rates from Hamilton city dwellers to help pay for it, that’s where it’s going to hit everyone. There was a 12 per cent increase in rates mooted by the Hamilton City Council, I know it’s been voted down, but there seems to be lots of other costs to account for.’’

Rhodes said it was important for the newly elected member to think about keeping rates and debt low.

Hamilton City Council’s rates increase will be 3.8 per cent for the 2017/18 year. A report from the city council’s finance committee in February showed the council’s debt to be $363m.

Waikato Regional Council is proposing an average rate rise of 2.6 per cent for next financial year.

The suggested rise will be confirmed by the regional council in May. It would see a rates revenue of $83.92m.

The regional council has no external debt.

A healthy number of candidates have stepped forward to contest the Hamilton seat by-election of the Waikato Regional Council. Voting for the new elected member ends on Tuesday, April 11.