According to Local Government Minister Rodney Hide, Aucklanders’ will save up to 20 per cent on their water bills as soon as next July.
As the Super City Council looks to outline new ratepayer gains, the announcement follows Auckland’s water providers being consolidated into one firm, Watercare Services Limited. The new utility will introduce one tariff that will cover 1,000 litres for $1.30 as opposed to the previous range of $1.31 to $2.33.
According to Mr Hide, the council has reviewed 11 reports that stated that one water agency would lead to significant savings for local residents. Wastewater charges have not yet been announced, but Mr Hide said the city will also look to reduce charges on the that front as well. He added that overall costs will be decreased as the new council seeks to reduce water waste and excess water bills.
However, Labour’s Phil Twyford criticised the announcement saying that waste water reform should also have been included in the statement today. He said that it was clear that Prime Minister John Key and Rodney Hide had postponed changes to waste water charges until later in 2012. Mr Twyford said that he believed after elections were over in 2012, Aucklanders would find that their waste water charges increased significantly, costing hundreds of dollars more per year.
The new council will take over later this year, but Mr Twyford has said that appointments for the council should have already been made. There is also growing concern that there is a lack of diversity on the council, with women and various ethnicities being underrepresented.
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