Waimea Weekly Locally Owned and Operated
Wednesday 11 December 2024
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Celebrating 130 years of marriage
Hot house bears fruit
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24 Champion Road, Richmond wrfs.co.nz
Page 34-35
Sports stars honoured
‘Scary’ – water regulation costs fall on councils MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter
Councils are rankling under Government proposals that would see them pay large levies at a time when they are already under financial pressure. The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai, the body which regulates water across the country to ensure it’s in line with national standards, currently receives its total yearly budget of $25.3 million from the Government. However, a new proposal would see the Government cover just 16 per cent of the cost, with the remaining 84 per cent to be paid by water service providers at a rate of $4.14 per person, excluding GST. The Commerce Commission is also being tasked with ensuring residents
get good value for money from their water services. The commission’s oversight, costed at $6.5 million for the 2025/26 year, is also proposed to be completely funded by local government. A combination of these two levies would see the most populous region, Auckland, lumped with annual fees of $9,009,525 while the country’s smallest district, Kaikōura, would pay $22,925. Councils currently deliver water services across much of the country outside of Auckland and Wellington and so they will initially pay the levies. However, under the Government’s Local Water Done Well policy, it’s expected water service delivery in many areas will shift to new council-controlled organisations
SEE PAGE 2
Rhianne Solly rides down Queen St as part of the Nelson Motor Cycle Club’s float at the Richmond Santa Parade on Sunday. Photo: Gordon Preece. See page 14.
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