November 01, 2022
Tide turning against Three Waters
Former infrastructure minister Shane Jones says the Government may have run out of time to implement its three waters infrastructure reform without substantial challenge.
The New Zealand First politician says the challenge by Auckland mayor Wayne Brown backed up by the Christchurch and Waimakariri mayors means its mandate to act becomes more shaky.
“The problem remains that there are small councils around the motu that are incapable of raising any more dough to address the long term challenges of small sewerage schemes failing, the inability of developer to create more subdivision space for housing because what are you going to do with the waste water, but I really do think the tide is well and truly running against the Government on three waters,” Mr Jones says.
The three mayors have proposed local government entities continue to own water assets but consolidate voluntarily into regional water organisations which can access affordable finance from a new water infrastructure fund.