Public meeting on water privatisation

The North Shore City Council invites residents to attend a public meeting to discuss the future of their ratepayer-owned water services under the Auckland super-city and changes to the Local Government Act 2002.

When: Saturday 12 June 2010 starting at 11.30 am
Where: The Concourse, North Shore City Council building, The Strand, Takapuna (if raining: RSA Hall, adjacent to the Concourse)

The North Shore City Council public meeting precedes a National Day of Action Against Privatisation rally commencing at 12.00 noon at the same venue, which the Council recently resolved to support.

Legislation establishing the new Auckland Council requires the adoption of volumetric charging for waste water and allows for the harmonisation of water tariffs across the former cities comprising the ‘super city’, which has implications for North Shore water consumers.

Amendments to the Local Government Act 2002, currently before Parliament, modify the restrictions on private sector involvement in water supply allowing private control and ownership of water infrastructure for up to 35 years, and remove the requirement for Councils to consult the public before contracting out public services to the private sector.

“North Shore residents and ratepayers are urged to attend the public meeting this coming Saturday to express their views on these important changes that will affect their water and wastewater bills for years to come,” said North Shore City Council Strategy and Finance Committee Chairman Councillor Grant Gillon.

A Colman Brunton poll of North Shore ratepayers conducted for the North Shore City Council in July last year found that 89 percent of North Shore ratepayers agree that the supply of water should remain in public council ownership and not be privatised, with 52 percent strongly agreeing.

ENDS

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