July 06, 2020
Strong leadership for cleaner Waikato
The chair of the Waikato Regional Council is defending a call from the Waikato River Authority for Watercare to up its contribution to the clean up of the river catchment.
Russ Rimmington has been outspoken on Auckland Council’s efforts to increase its take from the river, accusing Watercare of taking a short-sighted, just in time approach and failing to act strategically to secure future supplies for the city.
The Government has now fast tracked Watercare’s consent application to increase its take at Tuakau, and Hamilton has also agreed to let the super city have its unused allocation over summer.
Mr Rimmington says the controversy led to false claims there would be a charge on water and some misplaced Māori-bashing by media.
"The investment that we are asking Watercare, through Auckland Council, and really led by some excellent Māori leaders, is saying we need some consideration to ensure riparian fencing, restoration, planting flaxes and so forth, can ensure our river will be one of the purest in the world," he says.
Mr Rimmington says investment in cleaning the catchment, including through central government’s jobs for nature initiative, means it will cost Watercare less to process the water it collects at Tuakau.
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