July 15, 2021
Cash sweetener for Three Waters takeover
Auckland is set to get half a billion dollars to buy into the Three Waters reform.
Mayor Phil Goff has expressed concern about the plan to centralise control of New Zealand’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services after Auckland ratepayers have spent billions fixing the supercity’s infrastructure.
But the Government today announced a $2.5 billion package to support local government transition through the reforms, with Auckland getting the largest chunk.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand’s water systems are facing a significant crisis and will continue to do so without major transformation.
She says the support package will ensure no council is worse off as a result of the reforms.
$500 million is set aside for the transition process, and the other $2 billion is to make up for the shift of water assets from council balance sheets.
Councils can invest that money in things like climate change and resilience, housing and urban design and planning, and community wellbeing
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