It’s time for the people of Ashburton District to demand better three waters reform, and reject the Government’s one size fits none plan, says Mayor Neil Brown.

The public currently have their one and only opportunity to have their say on the water reforms through the Select Committee process and Mayor Brown says it’s important that they don’t miss the opportunity.

Full guidance on how people can provide their feedback is now at demandbetter.nz – people can make a submission, send an email or sign a petition.

Everyone has until July 22 to have their say and Mayor Brown said that Councillors had been approached by many people unhappy with what was being suggested, and now it was time for them to take action.

“This is the only chance that you will get to have any say whatsoever on what happens to our district’s infrastructure,” he said.

“We need to deliver a strong message to the Government that people want a better form of reform that respects the decades of investment by local communities and enables them to preserve a real say in how their money is spent in future.

“Through Communities 4 Local Democracy He Hapori mō te Manapori, we’ve developed a commonsense model for reform that everyone can get behind and that delivers every outcome sought by the Government.

“We’ve worked hard to create a model for reform that will ensure better long-term water services for every community, now it’s time for our community to take a few minutes and demand better water reform.

“We’re also calling on the Government to ensure that local communities are heard by making sure that the select committee meetings aren’t heard solely in Wellington, so when you have the option of speaking in person it’s important to take that opportunity.

“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.

“Every person that doesn’t take part in the process will be counted by the government as being in support of this plan.”

Submissions are now being accepted on the Water Services Entities Bill at: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/53SCFE_SCF_BILL_124081/water-services-entities-bill

For guidance on how your submission support our work to deliver better water reform, visit demandbetter.nz