Water NZ - Papakura To Buy Back United Franchise? Community Defeats Waitakere Wastewater Charge.

Date: 8 Dec 2000 14:44:44 -0000 Subject: Water New Zealand news

News Subscribers - http://www.waternz.co.nz

Lots of stories this week - sludgegate - Papakura de-franchising, New LATE legislation.

Also an opiniton piece on Sandra Lee's LATE bill.

All at http://www.waternz.co.nz/

Papakura to consider buying back United Water franchise

Papakura District councillors are looking at the possibility of buying back the water franchise from United Water. But councillors who are against the recommendation want to see more discussion on the issue. At a council monitoring committee meeting, councillor Allan Bell stunned his colleagues by asking that the chief executive officer, Tom McLean, start negotiations with United Water to buy back the water franchise. Waitakere flat fee charge lost on Mayor's vote

Community Defeats Waitakere Wastewater Charge C.A.P's campaign against the charge which has involved numerous pickets of council meetings, public rallies, a public meeting attended by 150 people (which passed a resolution threatening civil disobedience if the charge had been passed at the 29th Nov meeting) and the collection of over 4400 individual submissions has been instrumental in defeating the proposed wastewater charge.

Watercare argues with its owners - again Auckland's water supplier has launched a scathing attack on Metrowater over rising water prices. The broadside follows comments by Metrowater chief executive Graham Coxhead in which he said the public is using less water and this is likely to push prices up. Watercare communications manager Owen Cook says Metrowater is issuing a clear warning to the residents of Auckland City: Conserve water and we will punish you with higher prices. Mr Coxhead last week blamed Watercare for an inflexible stance, which is adding to the cost of water to the city. "They see their costs as totally fixed and they have a legislative monopoly position," he said.

Auckland City exceeds conservation expectation Metrowater may need to set higher prices next year because Auckland City residents are using less water than expected. Graham Coxhead, chief executive of the council-owned water and wastewater company, says water conservation measures are working extremely well.

Water reorganisation in Auckland North Shore City Council could lose half its work and several hundred staff if reforms planned for Auckland's water services go ahead. The possibility was revealed this week at the council's strategy and finance committee discussion of a regional water review, which suggests new ways of providing water, wastewater and stormwater services for the Auckland region.

Lee Introduces Local Govt Bill on LATEs The Minister of Local Government has introduced a publicly long-awaited Bill into Parliament today that provides for councils' local authority trading enterprises (LATES) to be able to operate beyond a narrow commercial focus and also be able to take into account non-commercial considerations, including social and environmental consequences.

Wellington Sewage Spill Anglian Water and Wellington City Council have admitted their response to the massive sewage spill at Owhiro Bay was too slow. The two organisations fronted up to a community meeting attended by about 60 at the bay on Thursday night to explain their actions to irate residents. Consultation On Fluoride For Onehunga Auckland City has been asked by members of the Onehunga community to consider adding fluoride to the water supplied from the Onehunga bores and treatment facility.

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