Waitakere Council Proposing to Introduce User Charges for Wastewater

Picket at Waitakere Council Offices
Mozelle Ave (Off Lincoln Rd, Henderson)
5pm Wednesday 29 June 2005

As most of you know the community in Waitakere City has opposed user pays , or flat charges, and held back commercialisation of water services for several years. But the council is at it again - they never seem to give up. They are attempting to bring wastewater user charges through the back door in supporting a declaratory judgement by the North Shore City Council which seeks to gain the right to charge wastewater user charges, without forming a water company - like Metrowater.

This could see water bills more than double, pushing poorer members of the community further up against the wall, and forcing schools to spend thousands of dollars on water at the expense of our children's education.

The same applies to hospitals, old peoples' homes and other social organisations.

They will also look at the introduction of a "targetted water rate". We believe this is greenwash for more flat charges, which are equally socially regressive.

We need your support yet again. Please attend this picket and the council meeting at 5pm. CAP representative Meredydd Barrar will be addressing the council. The council has refused to hear the Primary Teachers' Union (NZEI).

Please distribute this message as widely as possible, and come along yourself.

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