Has Three Waters been reincarnated?

Recently a workshop was held in TDC chambers where a presentation was made to council by an organisation called Waikato Waters Done Well.

The possible essence of the presentation was to persuade the TDC to transfer ratepayer owned water assets into a pan Waikato structure that would deliver supposed economies of operational scale as well as access to cheap debt arguably to assist councils, with poor infrastructure, to upgrade.

It could be argued that this proposal would entail the establishment of a bureaucracy staffed by those with a particular self interest, and a board of the same mindset.

Taupo ratepayers will be billed directly from this entity for the costs of water usage and costs of bureaucratic administration.

In Taupo it seems that the residential water charge is a standard $800 or so a year. Once water services are spun off into a separate corporation TDC rates should reduce by $800.

Do I hear a “yeah right”.

That water metres are being installed in Taupo to measure usage by volume maybe is maybe an indication that the TDC has already bought into the Waikato Waters Done Well concept or they are looking only to establish a local user pays policy.

In any event “choose your poison” and keep your eyes peeled for public consultation on the issue.

Rex Mundi, Taupō

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