Three Waters savings pitch debunked

Those savings always looked too good to be true and now, thanks to our council, we have proof.

Our council tends to get way more brickbats than bouquets.

But if I could afford to buy the entire contents of my local florists I'd have it delivered to the mayor and every councillor for their decision on the Government’s Three Waters socalled “reforms”.

Sheryl Mai and her team have led the way in the standing up for ratepayers across the country by commissioning a report that has called out the fictitious savings that were promoted by the Government as being available if it took over our water and wastewater assets and gave them to four unelected new regional entities.

Those savings always looked too good to be true and now, thanks to our council, we have proof.

Even an under-the-table additional cash sweetener of $90 million made by the Government didn't sway our council from doing the right thing.

We know infrastructure has to be paid for.

But paying unnecessary profits to speculators looking to lend on water infrastructure that ratepayers and the environment can't do without is another example of neo-liberal economic nonsense designed to enrich the wealthy at our expense.

The message to Government should now be very clear. Fund the necessary infrastructure through nointerest Reserve Bank loans and keep your sticky hands off the assets that we've paid for.

Chris Leitch Leader Social Credit Whanga¯rei