Mayors push for public to have say on water reforms

South Canterbury mayors are encouraging people to have their say on the Three Waters reforms.

Timaru mayor Nigel Bowen said now was the time for people with concerns about the reforms to have their say.

‘‘We need to deliver a strong message to the Government that people want a better form of reform that respects the decades of investment by local communities and enables them to preserve a real say in how their money is spent in future.’’

Mackenzie mayor Graham Smith warned that by not making a submission, people could be assumed to be happy with the proposed changes.

‘‘Every person that doesn’t take part in the process will be counted by the Government as being in support,’’ he said.

Waimate district mayor Craig Rowley said councils knew the way water was managed would have to change, but were proposing an alternative model of reform ‘‘that will offer better results’’.

‘‘Through Communities 4 Local Democracy He Hapori mō te Manapori (C4LD) we’ve developed a common sense model for reform that everyone can get behind and that delivers every outcome sought by the Government,’’ said Rowley.

The group, which was set up in December to oppose the reforms, is made up of 31 district and city councils, which are funding the campaign through tiered payments, with rural councils paying $10,000, provincial councils $15,000 and metropolitan councils $20,000.

The three mayors are directing residents to a pre-written template on the webpage of the lobby group C4LD.

Public submissions to the select committee close at 11.59pm Friday, July 22.