Water Reforms No Silver Bullet For CHB Residents
Central Hawkes Bay annual water rates for connected users could go from around $3000 per property to between $7000 and $7600 within ten years, depending on which option of the proposed three is chosen.
The regional water entity proposed under the Government's Local Water Done Well scheme could see Central Hawke's Bay with the highest water rates in the region.
Central Hawke's Bay annual water rates for connected users could go from around $3000 per property to between $7000 and $7600 within ten years, depending on which option of the proposed three is chosen.
'We're in a perfect storm in Central Hawke's Bay. We're having to invest in catch-up from past underinvestment, meet growing regulatory expectations and invest for the future all at the same time,' Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Alex Walker said.
'It's very clear to the Councillors and I that the model is not a silver bullet to our affordability issues, but in the current changing legislative and regulatory environment, we are stronger together as Hawke's Bay.'
Central Hawke's Bay District Council, along with the three other territorial councils in the region, Hastings District, Napier City and Wairoa District Councils, began consultation on the Government's new approach to water services delivery – Local Water Done Well – from today 12 May to 5pm 15 June.
Local Water Done Well sits alongside legislation mandating councils decide, along with their communities, how it meets the new standards Government has set for water delivery and quality of infrastructure. There are three options to decide from, Regional Council-controlled Organisation, a standalone Central Hawke's Bay Council-controlled organisation or an 'inhouse' delivery unit –
'We prefer option one, the Regional Council-controlled organisation, which we jointly own with the other councils. It has the greatest benefits in terms of providing economies of scale, and ability to get the most skilled people working in our water space.
'We're stronger together.'
The water rates were derived from modelling completed for business cases for each of the three options. Costs were determined from what each council indicated it needed to do in their longterm plans. While there are still a number of details to be worked out, it has been assumed each council would pay its own way for its water infrastructure, and this is the basis of the numbers presented to the community – so everyone can clearly see what costs and increases are looming over the next ten years.
'This is the biggest lever we currently have to reduce our rates impact. Come to one of our community conversations, go to our website, write us a letter -just get involved in the conversation,' Walker said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
12 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Mayor Mahé Drysdale's call for council review backed by LGNZ
It comes after Drysdale called for 'tough' amalgamation conversations between Bay of Plenty councils. He said the remit passing showed everyone was aware that change was happening in local government. '[We] want to be proactive around designing the system that will work for our people and work for us as local government.' The remit called for a review of current functions and governance arrangements of councils. Councils weren't as efficient and effective as they could be, he said. The sector needed to look at what services should be delivered nationally, regionally, and locally, then design a system that would best deliver those services, Drysdale said. Having a national IT system for all councils and regional roading networks were some ideas the sector could discuss, he said. Mahé Drysdale said councils could have a national IT system for service like rates. Photo / 123rf When talking about efficiency, people 'jump to amalgamation', Drysdale said, but it was only one of the solutions. 'It may not be the solution that comes out of it. We've got to keep a really open mind.' He said he was not trying to 'ram through amalgamation'. 'The intent of this is getting all the local authorities with LGNZ and central government working together to design a system that works for the country.' New Zealand has 78 councils: 11 regional, 11 city, 50 district, and six unitary authorities (regional and city/district combined). Changes to how councils managed water through Local Water Done Well and Resource Management Act (RMA) reform meant the functions of councils was changing, so councils needed to change their form, Drysdale said. LGNZ was in the 'perfect position' to co-ordinate the remit, but buy-in was needed from central Government and the other councils, he said. Plenty of reviews had been done, but action was needed, Drysdale said. 'Let's make sure we've done this thoroughly and we know what the best system is, but then we've actually got to implement it.' Local Government Minister Simon Watts. Photo / Alex Burton Local Government Minister Simon Watts said opportunities for efficiency included working alongside the sector. The new legislation that would replace the RMA included provisions about the roles, responsibilities, and processes of local government, he said. This included proposals that differed from the status quo, Watts said. 'I am keen to look at how the reorganisation process for local government can be made simpler and expect to receive advice on this.' Local Government New Zealand chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene. Photo / Mark Tantrum LGNZ chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene said local government needed to be proactive and lead the changes required. 'The current sector arrangements are a legacy, and do not always reflect how communities have expanded and how modern services are delivered. 'With key Government legislation changes now under way, it'll require an agile and well-planned response by the sector,' she said in a statement. 'It's also important we retain local decision-making in the work we do and the decisions we make, particularly when it comes to the delivery of infrastructure and services for the community.' The LGNZ national council would consider next steps on the remit in the coming months. After the October election, the organisation would engage with councils in a member-driven process, an LGNZ spokesperson said. Outgoing Bay of Plenty Regional Council chairman Doug Leeder said councils needed to be prepared to question their structure and functions. 'The structure of local government hasn't meaningfully changed since 1989. In that time, our communities, demographics, and challenges have changed dramatically,' he said in a statement. 'We need to be brave enough to question how we deliver services and what functions sit best at which level - national, regional, or local.' The remit had the support of metro councils before it was presented to LGNZ. The metro councils would provide support and resources to work on the programme established, the remit said. - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
NZ Herald
13 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Watch: Fonterra boss points finger at international prices and supermarkets in butter meeting with Wills
When asked whether anything raised in the meeting would lead to lower prices, Willis said, 'All roads lead back to supermarket competition.' 'I continue to believe that is the most powerful lever the Government has on this issue. We will never be able to control global dairy prices, but we can influence the amount of competition in New Zealand's grocery sector,' Willis said. Willis said she had three main reflections on her conversation, the first was that 'the large proportion of the price of butter at the supermarket is dictated by global demand for butter'. 'There's a story to tell there: butter, which was once an unfashionable product, has gone into huge demand globally and that's reflected in the price people are willing to pay for it internationally,' she said. She had been told by Hurrell that when the global dairy price comes down, butter prices in New Zealand are expected to come down too. She added that high prices had a positive upside. 'It's worth noting that when the price is high that is hundreds of millions of dollars of export revenue coming into our country,' Willis said. The second issue raised was retailers. 'What Miles acknowledged, and what every New Zealander can see, is that supermarkets make choices about what margin they charge for butter. Now this is at the margin, it is a small proportion of the overall price that you pay, between 5% and 10% of the overall price shared between Fonterra and the retailer. 'What is clear is that different retailers make different decisions about what margins they charge,' Willis said. Willis, who once worked for Fonterra, revealed the fact she was meeting Hurrell last week. While the meeting was already scheduled, she let it be known she planned to raise the cost of butter with him. The third point raised by Hurrell was that the dairy giant was itself squeezing costs out of the system to ensure prices could be lower for shoppers. On Wednesday, she expressed regret that the significance of the meeting had spiralled out of proportion. 'I've been very surprised at the almost breathless excitement of the blow by blow of what happened in that meeting,' Willis said. It is not clear what, if anything, Fonterra could do to lower the cost of butter, given the main driver of the price Kiwis pay is the price our dairy fetches on the international commodities market. Willis praised the success of these exporters in Parliament on Wednesday, noting exporters, including dairy, are delivering an export-led economic recovery.
Scoop
13 hours ago
- Scoop
Affordable Homes To Address Te Kūiti Housing Shortage
Associate Minister of Housing Mā te hononga ka whai kaha. Te Kūiti whānau will enjoy greater access to modern affordable rental housing thanks to an Iwi-led partnership backed by the Government, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The Government has approved in principle $17million into a partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto that will build 40 affordable rental homes with infrastructure in Te Kūiti, giving effect to the Crown's Treaty of Waitangi settlement commitment with the iwi. The Iwi will also contribute a significant portion to the development including $11million - representing 50 percent of the housing supply costs - and the land. 'This is an area of high housing need. With over a third of Te Kūiti residents renting, the limited availability of rental properties makes it difficult for whānau to secure stable housing,' Mr Potaka says. 'We're taking action to help address this shortage, which will also help local businesses because employers can struggle to attract and retain staff due to the lack of affordable housing. This mahi can mean a world of difference for whānau in small rural communities that need stable employment and incomes. 'The development, named Te Kirikiri, will feature affordable rentals of a mixed typology to meet the diverse needs of kaumātua and young whānau, consisting of 20 two-bedroom accessible homes for kaumātua, 13 three-bedroom homes and7 four-bedroom homes. 'Work is scheduled to begin next month and will take about two years to complete. 'Te Kirikiri will incorporate tikanga Māori and kaupapa-led design principles, and include the use of wetlands, native grasses, trees, and shrubs to create safe, communal spaces for whānau to enjoy. 'These affordable rentals will support Ngāti Maniapoto's ambition to place 200 whānau in safe, secure, high-quality and affordable homes by 2030.' The Government investment is part of a $200 million commitment announced earlier this year that will accelerate Māori housing projects across the country and enable the delivery of 400 affordable rentals in high-need areas by the end of June 2027.
