The Dunedin City Council is to decide today if it will join a coalition opposed to parts of the Government’s Three Waters reforms.
More than 20 councils are part of the Communities 4 Local Democracy campaign — including Queenstown Lakes District and Christchurch City — and Dunedin councillors are poised to debate joining them.
The contentious reforms of drinking water, stormwater and wastewater services could result in councils losing control of some assets — to be run by large, regional entities.
Cr Andrew Whiley has put forward a notice of motion for today’s meeting, proposing that the Dunedin council joins the coalition proposing potential alternative solutions.
Five other councillors signed the notice — Jim O’Malley, Rachel Elder, Sophie Barker, Carmen Houlahan and Jules Radich.
An explanatory note to the notice said alternative solutions would "retain local ownership of the assets" and they would remain on the council’s balance sheet.
Local accountability for the assets would also be retained, the note said.
The reforms have been promoted as a more cost-effective way of managing water services into the future.
Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan is part of a working group looking into possible tweaks to the Government’s proposed structure.
It is due to report back next week.
Mr Cadogan said it was well accepted the status quo was not viable.
The shape of change was what had to be settled, he said.
Meanwhile, claims emerged at the weekend from Act New Zealand and National Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds about what they called another postponement in the Three Waters programme.
Both Minister of Local Government Nanaia Mahuta’s office and the Department of Internal Affairs disputed this characterisation of recent material.
