Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown is encouraging the community to have their say on the Three Waters reforms.
The Ashburton District Council will reinforce its opposition when it submits on the Government’s Water Services Entities Bill and calling for a pause on proceedings.
Brown is also calling on the community not to miss their one and only opportunity to weigh in.
“This is the only chance that you will get to have any say whatsoever on what happens to our district’s infrastructure,” he said.
The bill is the first legislation to enable the Three Waters reforms for July 2024 when the services currently run by councils will be run by four entities.
Brown said the council will take the opportunity to “reinforce our opposition to the reforms as they are currently proposed”.
“Our strong view is that the reform process should be paused for up to five years to let the new regulator, Taumata Arowai, settle in, and then see how readily councils are meeting their obligations and responsibilities.”
The council will also raise concerns around local representation.
Each of the new entities will have regional representative groups of between 12 and 14 members.
Half the members will be appointed from mana whenua from the entity region, and the other half from territorial authorities, which is where Brown is concerned about balance.
“It is critical that Ashburton and Canterbury have strong and clear mechanisms to ensure local perspectives are heard and considered by the new entity.
“There is also a need to ensure a balance of metro, rural, and provincial council representation on the regional representative groups.”
Brown is encouraging the community to also give feedback to Government, with submissions due by July 22.
“If you don’t want to see future water services that are ‘all pay, no say’ this is your only opportunity to stand up and be counted,” Brown said.

• By Jonathan Leask