Tauranga's main concerns over Three Waters revealed as protester get 'furious'

Protester Chris Lee (right) with fellow protester Ross Steel (behind). Photo / Kiri Gillespie

A breakdown of the community's main concerns regarding the proposed Three Waters Reform was tabled at a Tauranga City Council meeting yesterday - just hours after a protest on the council's CBD doorstep.

Under Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta, the Government plans to shift control of drinking, waste and stormwater infrastructure from local government to four regional entities, which are yet to be established.

Tauranga City Council formally tabled its letter to Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta, outlining concerns in an eight-page document. This included a breakdown of community feedback already received regarding the proposal. Of the 296 individual items of feedback, 183 (62 per cent) were opposed to it, compared to 16 (5 per cent) in support.

Anti-Three Waters protesters make their message clear. Photo / Philip Brown

Of the main concerns raised, 89 people sought a referendum to determine the council's participation, 79 people were concerned about iwi input or control, and 78 were worried in general about a loss of local control or accountability.

Prior to the meeting, about 70 people took part in a protest outside the council, many with placards, some with horns and megaphones.

Protester Chris Lee said he was concerned about the potential 50/50 split between mana whenua and local councils.

He also felt there was a risk that a struggling council would be subsidised by areas with larger populations, such as Tauranga.

Protester Lynne Moore said there were "a lot of unhappy people".

The protest was organised by the Tauranga Ratepayers' Alliance. Organiser Michael O'Neill said everyone was asked to wear a mask and "the expectation is that everyone is vaccinated".

"We are conscious of the need for Covid safety requirements to be followed but at the same time people want to be here. We don't feel we have been heard."

Tauranga City Council commission chairwoman Anne Tolley. Photo / NZME

O'Neill said he hoped the protest would result in the Government stopping the reform.

Concerned resident Ross Steel said he was furious with the proposed changes.

"I just think it's important that ratepayers have a voice and send a clear message to central government."

During the council meeting, general manager of infrastructure Niclas Johansson told commissioners the existing water infrastructure model was not sustainable.

"Over the past couple of summers we've experienced droughts, which means we need to up our game and invest more," he said.

"In summary, there's a lot we don't know. That's reflected in feedback to the Minister but if we keep doing what we've always done, we suspect future costs will become unaffordable."

Commission chairwoman Anne Tolley reiterated her frustration at the "vacuum of information" which has resulted in vocal objections such as the protest earlier in the day.

"If you summed it up, the community don't understand the reforms, they don't understand the need for the reforms and don't want their assets taken by the Government," Tolley said.

"You can't blame them for that. There's been a minimal amount of information and lots of opportunities for people to fill it with misinformation and a bit of scaremongering."