30.4.07

Editor,  North Shore Times.

Dear Sir,                                 Letter to the Editor.

Many of your readers may be interested to learn that proposals are being developed that Watercare Ltd (our bulk water supplier) should have its legislation changed so that it can pay its local authority owners a dividend to help finance stormwater infrastructure.

In other words, Watercare would be able to charge even more for potable water so as to make a profit to fund stormwater.

In my view life-essential water should be available at the lowest possible cost price, not used as another form of tax or rates to fund unrelated stormwater solutions.

There is another factor too. If Watercare is enabled to make a profit and declare dividends, it becomes even more attractive and easy to privatise.

Aucklanders should make their views on this very forcibly known to both Members of Parliament and their local councillors. This idea needs to be nipped in the bud pronto.