Reform should be halted while financial assumptions behind a "flawed" proposed delivery model are examined and other models that might be more affordable explored, the council argued yesterday.
Cr Jim O’Malley told a parliamentary select committee yesterday the council was broadly supportive of water reform and it regarded establishing 10 regional entities as a better idea than the previously proposed four, but it remained fundamentally opposed to "the need for asset removal".
The Government proposes to have the 10 entities take over control of management of New Zealand’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services from councils.
It has argued the new water organisations will have financial flexibility to make expensive and necessary upgrades more affordable.
Cr O’Malley was less irate in front of Parliament’s governance and administration committee considering the Water Services Entities Amendment Bill than Dunedin deputy mayor Sophie Barker had suggested last week he might be, other than when he fired broadsides at the Department of Internal Affairs for "interference".
He nonetheless criticised the sales pitch that had been used to justify the proposed entities, noting they had been presented as incredibly effective and efficient.
"We don’t believe the underlying numbers are accurate."
Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich said the council was worried about having its ability to control stormwater stripped from it.
In a statement released just after the council’s presentation to the committee, Cr O’Malley said it was not too late for the Government to change course.
"Instead of the rushed consultation on the latest broken Bill, the Government would be better off spending its time reconsidering these plans and developing a service delivery model for change that actually works," he said.
"Given its steadfast refusal to do so to date, we can only assume the Government is hellbent on ramming through its current plan whatever the cost to local communities throughout New Zealand.
"We support water reform but remain opposed to the transfer of significant community assets to a broken economic model. That’s something we simply can’t support."
Cr O'Malley said ratepayers across New Zealand could end up paying much more for water services through a combination of water charges and rates.
Clutha District Council chief executive Steve Hill told the committee the Government’s decision to run with 10 entities, rather than four, was contrary to cost-reduction principles.
Many people, including those on lower incomes, would face higher water bills than was necessary, he said.
Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan, who has described himself as disillusioned after the Government’s course adjustment on the number of entities, did not appear as he was overseas.
