Along with many other local authorities throughout New Zealand, Christchurch City Council agrees that there should be some change to improve the way our roads are funded and managed. However, we do not believe that the Government has found the right solution. In fact, we think these proposals would make the situation a whole lot worse. The parallels between the electricity reforms and the Government s plans for roads are too great to ignore. The electricity reforms have shown how vital it is to maintain local control of local community assets.
Power supply is an important asset.
Roads are even more important. They must remain in direct community control. The Government has reformed the electricity sector in an attempt to introduce competition. We have now seen the result of that - price rises. When you commercialise assets developed by the community, it is the community which ends up paying.