Hutt Water Action Group calls for fight over privatisation concerns

BY SIMON EDWARDS

Hutt people don't want the higher costs, lower accountability and reduced focus on conservation that is inevitable when water supply is privatised.

That's the message put out by a group of 16 or so protesters outside the Lower Hutt Town Hall last Saturday, with similar rallies held at the same time at other main centres around New Zealand.

Anna Sutherland, one of the locals brandishing a painted umbrella that together spelled out "Our Water Not for Sale", said the the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill 142-1 removes clauses that require councils to maintain ownership and control of water when aspects of water delivery are contracted out. It also increases the length of time councils can enter into such contracts from 15 to 35 years.

ACT's Rodney Hide, who is promoting the bill, says it is not privatisation because water control is not lost in perpetuity from the public sector. He says the changes are to allow flexibility of water delivery and to remove barriers to efficiency, especially since developing now sources of supply is very expensive.

But Ms Sutherland of the newly-formed Hutt Water Action Group says long-term leases are now the main model of water privatisation around the world.

"Long-term leases work in private companies' favour as they can make a quick profit while ratepayers and local government retain the long-term maintenance costs and responsibility for ensuring supply. If a contractor fails to maintain infrastructure, goes bankrupt or is unable to supply water to the current standard, the public will pay to fix the problem."

Water is a "natural monopoly, a necessity of life, and a human right". People don't want a separate water bill in their mail box that also includes a private companies' profit margin, she says.

Eastbourne resident and council Harbour Ward candidate Robert Ashe points out that Capacity, which currently manages water infrastructure on behalf of the Wellington and Hutt Valley councils, has no position for someone to co-ordinate water conservation.

The Hutt River quality is degraded, and the regional council talks about taking out more water at Kaitoke weir.

"Demand is growing uncontrolled," he says. There's talk of a new dam on the "pristine" Whakatiki River, and taking more water from the aquifer, which risks saltwater intrusion.

Mr Ashe says a fixation on low rates means we're neglecting assets we're supposed to protect for generations to come; the backlog of maintenance on wharves is another example.

He and Grant Brookes of Valley Action Network  another political ticket preparing to run candidates in this year's election  say water meters keep being mentioned as the way to encourage people to reduce use, "but that's a common precursor to privatisation".

"We're battling this talk of meters and now we've been completely sideswiped by this [Hide bill]," Mr Ashe says.

Council should instead be taking the lead on effective stewardship of water assets with initiatives such as:

* Encouraging grey and stormwater reuse;

* Utilising rainwater from buildings at sports fields and/or introducing summer tolerant grasses;

* Using new granule fertilisers on sports fields that change the root structure of plants so they grow deeper, requiring less watering;

* Subsidising the use of rainwater collection tanks at schools.

"There are so many smart ways forward. Privatisation of our of our most precious public assets  water  is not one of them."

* Hutt Water Action Group is holding a meeting at 7.30pm tomorrow at the Lower Hutt Transition Centre, 51a Victoria St, Alicetown.

- Hutt News