Councillor calls for stronger Three Waters opposition

By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter. Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.

One councillor continued his call from last year for stronger opposition on the Three Waters Reform, but was turned down.

At the Governing Body meeting on February 23, members approved council’s submission on the Water Services Legislation Bill and Water Services Economic Efficiency and Consumer Protection Bill.

Council submission highlights concerns around the transition to the new entity, land asset transfers, financial impacts and transferring stormwater functions.

Cr Wayne Walker called on Mayor Wayne Brown to take a harder stance.

The local board has discretion over where its Transport Capital Fund is spent, and several members spoken to by Hibiscus Matters say this project is unlikely to find favour.

Brown says the crossing is definitely not a priority for the area at the moment.

“There are a lot of other high roading priorities, and we have to spend money wisely as our budget has been substantially cut,” he says. “If we were considering a crossing, putting one on Whangaparāoa Road at Little Manly, across to the beach, would be a far higher priority, as that’s a safety issue.”

There will be a further workshop to discuss how the local board wants to spend its Transport Capital Fund in May/June, with the final decision coming to a June/July business meeting.