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Rowlinson was awarded $200 for the inconvenience caused by the water problems.
Southland’s county council will oppose the government’s three-water reform, but Mayor Gary Tong expects the reform to go ahead anyway.
Councilors discussed the matter at a meeting on Wednesday and will complete its submission to the select committee in the next 24 hours.
The government has proposed legislation to allow New Zealand’s three water services – drinking water, wastewater and stormwater – to be managed by four new government-owned water entities, replacing those currently managed by 67 municipalities.
Councilor Darren Frazer said the council was unable to support the reform due to the lack of detail, lack of public consultation and inaccurate data.
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The councilors agreed that these points would be made clear in the submission, but it would also include suggestions for improving the legislation as it was widely accepted that it would be implemented.
Cr Rob Scott said the three-water government reform process had gone from bad to worse. The council had initially been told it could consult its taxpayers, but the reform was later imposed by the government.
“Our taxpayers are angry and disconnected, just like us, and we’re being blamed…when it’s really not our reform. But it’s our asset,” he said.
He wanted the council to tell the select committee that the proposal for the three waters “isn’t good enough” and felt that if enough councils did the same, the select committee would look stupid to ignore them.
However, Mayor Gary Tong said there was “no doubt” the reform would go ahead.
The draft council proposal on the reform will be updated in response to feedback from councillors.
The draft submission, which is on the agenda for a council meeting on Wednesday, supports the need for reform of the three waters sector, but raises concerns about how local communities will be able to input and influence decision-making on local issues.”
While there are safeguards in place to prevent privatization of the water supply entities, the council wants anti-privatization provisions to be further tightened.
And the council believes that population-based decision-making will not effectively represent its communities.
Council President Cameron McIntosh said it was difficult to propose a bill that was missing crucial details.
The council manages 21 municipal drinking water supplies, two treated rural facilities, 19 sewage systems and 25 stormwater schemes.