INDEPENDENT NEWS

Call To Action To Oppose Waikato Pipeline

Published: Wed 9 Aug 2000 09:20 AM
Hi people!
Bruce Hucker, has put forward a notice of motion for the Auckland City Council meeting this Thursday night 10 August;
"That Auckland City Council reconfirms its support for the Waikato pipeline as the next major augmentation of bulk water supply to the Auckland Region."
At the last Auckland City Council meeting, 27.7.2000, Maire Leadbeater put forward a notice of motion that supported using "the best water first position taken by both North Shore City Council and Waitakere City Council with respect to greater Auckland's water supply" (see full motion at end, below signature).
North Shore and Waitakere City Councils have already passed similar resolutions, (their full wording is spelled out in Maire's notice of motion), and Watercare Services were obviously nervous that Auckland City Council - their largest shareholder - might follow. Watercare Services' 'suits' were there in force, along with overseas 'experts' especially flown in for the occasion. Maire withdrew the motion pending further information, and the matter was deferred until Watercare Services respond to a report which had come through from the Comissioner for the Environment, "Ageing Pipes and Murky Waters."
The dangers of the commercialised model for water, in the form of the L.A.T.E. wholesale water services provider Watercare Services, can be seen in their attitude to water quality, as well as the public consultation process.
* When do you remember being asked if you wanted Waikato water mixed on a daily basis with Auckland water?
* When do you remember being asked if you wanted the biggest rubbish dump in New Zealand 500 - 800 metres from the Waikato river, a few kilometres from the intake for the Waikato pipeline? As if the Waikato river isn't polluted enough already!
(Why didn't Watercare Services appeal against the Hampdon Downs dump?
Could it have anything to do with the fact that Peter Drummond - the Chairman of the Board for Watercare Services (who are supposed to be safeguarding the quality of the water we drink), is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Envirowaste, who want to set up the dump?????)
IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WAIKATO RIVER QUALITY AND THE PIPELINE, ATTEND THE COUNCIL MEETING THIS THURSDAY 10 AUGUST!!!
OPPOSE THE PIPELINE IT, AND SUPPORT A REVIEW - HELP TO OVERTURN THE HAMPTON DOWNS DUMP DECISION -
CONTACT BRUCE HUCKER DIRECTLY - LET HIM KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.
Bruce Hucker: Phone: 376 0246 Dep Mayor Fax: 376 4340 "Team" Leader - City Vision Councillors
BUILD THE PRESSURE ON BRUCE HUCKER TO WITHDRAW THIS MOTION - ATTEND THE COUNCIL MEETING THIS THURSDAY 10 AUGUST TO MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENS!
6.00pm THURSDAY 10 AUGUST AUCKLAND TOWN HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Remember, City Vision may not have policy on the Waikato pipeline, but they do have policy on consultation and democracy!
"A CITY VISION COUNCIL WILL:
* Restore democracy to Auckland City through effective public participation and a City Council that listens, hears and responds."
Yes, we all know that City Vision do not have a majority on Council, but what happened to sticking to your principles and fighting for your corner??????
We have already been sold out by some City Vision Councillors, who failed to support Maire Leadbeater's motion on 26 June to abolish Metrowater. Are we going to be sold out by Bruce Hucker and others on the question of effective public participation?
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD Penny Bright & Jim Gladwin Media Spokespersons The Water Pressure Group http://www.water-pressure-group.org.nz/ email: Water Pressure Group PO Box 19764 Auckland 7 New Zealand Ph / Fax 64 9 828 4517 Mobile: 025 2666 552
______________________________
Maire Leadbeater's motion of 27 July 2000
NOTICE OF MOTION
"That Auckland City Council supports the "best water first" position taken by both North Shore City Council and Waitakere City Council with respect to greater Auckland's water supply.
A. That Auckland City endorse the following resolutions of Waitakere City Council's Finance,
Policy and Property Committee passed on the 13 July, 2000:
That this Council strongly support a directive within the Watercare Statement of Corporate Intent that the Waikato pipeline is to be used in water emergencies only.
That this Council request justification as to why the commissioning of the Waikato pipeline cannot be deferred until there is a water emergency and the change of intent whereby there is to be a continual flow of water through the pipeline once it has been commissioned
B. That Auckland City Council also endorse the following resolution passed by North Shore City Council's Works and Environment Committee on July 4, 2000.
"That the Works and Environment committee recommends to Watercare Services that it adheres to the principles:
That the best quality raw water be treated and used whenever possible for human consumption purposes within the greater Auckland region.
That treated Waikato river water be used for town supply only when there is a shortage of the raw waters stored in the Hunua and Waitakere lake reservoirs.
C. That Auckland City write to Watercare Services Ltd to express its support for the Waitakere and north shore resolutions above and ask that the information requested in the Waitakere resolution be supplied to Auckland City also."

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