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An attempt to reduce a price increase for Auckland water users has been defeated.
Citizens and Ratepayers Now councillors today asked the Auckland City Council finance committee to cut this year's proposed rise from 9.1 per cent to 5 per cent.
The proposal would have kept the dividend which Metrowater pays to the council at $18 million rather than raise it to $24 million.
But the proposal was defeated by six votes to four, with those in favour saying the motion was a political stunt and that other council initiatives needed to be paid for somehow.
An earlier attempt to cut the water charge increase on May 23 also failed.
However, the ruling City Vision faction has said it wants to review Metrowater's plans for increases of between 9 and 10 per cent for the next 10 years in November this year.
Deputy Mayor Bruce Hucker, who backed the increases, was dumped as City Vision leader earlier this month.
City Vision now says water dividends should be used to fund water and wastewater services only but not subsidise other activities.
Water prices are expected to be a major issue when council elections are held on October 13. Critics have said the council was using Metrowater as a cash cow.
Auckland water charges are being examined in a parliamentary local government select committee inquiry.
- NZPA
