Simon O’Connor / Stuff
South Taranaki mayor Phil Nixon hopes people will submit an entry on the reforms by July 22.
The mayor of South Taranaki district is urging people opposed to the reform of the Three Waters to make their views known to the select committee by July 22.
Phil Nixon said he and other councilors had been approached by many people who were unhappy with what was being suggested.
“This is the only chance you’ll have a say in what’s happening to our district’s infrastructure,” he said.
“We need to send a strong signal to the government that people want a better form of reform that respects the decades-long investments of local communities and allows them to maintain a real say in how their money is spent going forward.”
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Communities 4 Local Democracy He Hapori mō te Manapori had developed a “common sense model” for reform that delivers all the results the government wants, he said.
This proposal would respect community property rights in Three Waters and ensure that property owners commit to meeting health, safety and environmental standards, with provisions to justify intervention by the Crown if progress is not made. .
“We are also calling on the Government to ensure that local communities are heard by ensuring that selected committee meetings are not just heard in Wellington, so if you have the opportunity to speak in person it is important to to seize that opportunity.”
Entries are open to the Water Services Entities Bill at: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/53SCFE_SCF_BILL_124081/water-services-entities-bill