So, are we really going to drown in debt if we do not embrace these reforms?

Using the Governments very own figures on average household costs of water services we can see that the projections are all pie in the sky.

Take for example Timaru District council: 2021 costs were $1030

Projected costs (with reform) are $1640 and without reform will be $5030

WoW! That is a lot of money per household. Phew. But wait.

Bearing in mind that we have averaged about 2.5% inflation over the past 30 years, lets just apply that to our 2021 figures.

2021: $1030 x 2.5% inflation = $2160 (in 2051) So the Government's figures are essentially sans inflation. That's impressive.

What about that $5030 figure then? That could indicate an inflation rate of 5.5%per annum

So where in the Government's modelling does the reduction in rates come bearing in mind that we have been paying off these assets for generations (and not having to pay for the freely sourced water that runs through them (as yet).

So if I have contributed to paying for them, and now the Government is acquiring them and giving them to an entity to run and we can see that it is only a matter of time for THAT entity or its sub-committees to initiate charging for ( volume of) water used, my rates should go down accordingly. Yes?

Or will our water charges be on top of our current rates (those things that never go down) despite the fact that a large chunk of our rates was targeted at paying for the purchase, maintenance and upgrades of the very assets that are being stolen? So your rates DO NOT GO DOWN, but they get added to, because you will also have to pay for the amount of water that you use. (Because ...... ummm... because someone has to pay for the bloated infrastructure that is going to replace the bloated infrastructure inherent in the truckload of council water departments we have.

It is about as logical as an ice cream factory in Antarctica. It'd just piss the penguins off.

Why dont they just establish a governance group comprising Iwi, Crown and (rotational) representatives of councils to sit at the top of an oversight body setting rules, standards and funding for councils for waters and then give each council what they need, (within a framework and as dictated by the governing body ) to get the waters up to spec for 2051? Simple. Less cost, everyone is happy, ownership stays local, Iwi have fair representation and I get to NOT have my water metred.

Meter the businesses by all means, but not me and my family.