The winners would be expensive homes and many business rate payers. Residential landlords would pass on the cost to tenants, costs they were currently responsible for as the rates payer. From July 1 property owners to pay user charges for sewage and wastewater, as they do for water. The Fair Deal Coalition, a lobby of 42 groups ranging from trade unions to Grey Power, accuses counci of lack of consultation with rate payers over the move. Senior councillor Ken Graham, who is opposed to the plan, says it could yet be thrown out.
Opposition grows against proposed water service charges.
All Auckland community boards made submissions on the subject, with the vast majority against the LATE concept. General Public A wildfire petition collected 250 signatures in three days, and drew support from groups such as the Papakura based Water for All and Fair Deal Coalition. Petitionorganiser Trevor Woods said the council collected rates for years yet put little into maintaining Auckland's water infrastructure. Therefore they were attempting to duck responsibility by setting up a water company that would charge to upgrade. He planned to use the petition in a submission to the annual plan in June.