Auckland Water Rates

NewstalkZB reports that an attempt to lower the Auckland water price increase from 9.1% to 5% failed by six votes to four.

So City Vision have a policy of reducing water rates, but given a chance to actually reduce water rates, they vote it down because they can’t find $6 million of savings or efficiencies in a $1billion organisation.

City Vision leader Cr Vern Walsh stated they need the money for Queen St and CBD upgrades – but they already are getting $144 million over the next 12 years from a special CBD targeted rate for this!

I think Auckland City Council and the VUWSA Executive could compete with each other for which has the most muppets on it.

The six Crs who voted for the higher water rates were

Mayor Dick Hubbard
Bruce Hucker (City Vision)
Vern Walsh (City Vision)
Richard Northey (Labour)
Neil Abel (City Vision)
Glenda Fryer (City Vision)

And the four who were defeated in asking for a reduction in water rates from 9.1% to 5%

Scott Milne (Citizens and Ratepayers)
Doug Armstrong (Citizens and Ratepayers)
Toni Millar (Citizens and Ratepayers)
Christine Caughey (Action Hobson)