So anyone that dares to disagree with Mayor Cadogan is the noisy minority — so nice to have a label. His July 12 editorial tells me he must drive around with his eyes skyward. There are very few streets in Balclutha that have not had water spilling out of pipes and down gutters, some for many weeks. There are many that have been dug up three or more times and still leak. Who pays these workers but the ratepayers? Surely any government money to assist is a bonus? I believe the council has already received money from this fund and are presently looking for staff to administer it. If you are so opposed please explain why your hands went out for money.
Unless there is a money tree in the grounds of the new town hall I, a noisy minority, suggest you stop your scaremongering tactics and embrace Three Waters so we as ratepayers can enjoy a far better water service. As opposition parties are vowing to repeal Three Waters it would be disappointing to think you, as mayor, were trying to influence voters. [Ed: abr]
Mary Laurenson,
Balclutha
REPLY
As mayor I have a responsibility to convey the facts to our communities, no matter how unpalatable. Clutha’s average Three Waters rate being $20,080 in 2054, if the status quo remains, is a verified prediction. I’m not for or against the reforms. Change is inevitable, but the structure of it determines the impact and, along with the council, I will fight for the best outcomes for our ratepayers. Councils have received tranche-one funding, determined by central government. Staff are not being hired to administer this. It’s being used for community upgrades such as the new Milton pool and library complex.
I’m proud to have chaired Otago/Southland councils through the challenges the reforms presented. I also co-chaired the South Island efforts. Embracing the process constructively was fundamental to the legislation that removed rural water schemes — 750,000 rural folk — from the reforms and gave the remaining mixed-use schemes (rural schemes with towns attached) the ability to choose if they remain in the reforms structure. I believe splitting the South Island into two entities will be detrimental for the South as we lose the benefit of population density, and I will continue to work for the best outcomes for our residents.
Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan
