Press Release – Peoples Choice – 5 June 2007

Peoples Choice Call for 50% Reduction in Small Business Wastewater Rates

Peoples Choice has slammed Manukau City’s wastewater tariff decision. Peoples Choice Councillor and Mayoral Candidate Dick Quax last week called for an exception to the Annual Plan Committee’s recommendation to wastewater tariff and is now calling for a 50 / 50 plan for small business relief – a 50% reduction in the fixed wastewater charge (from $950 to $475) for businesses that use less than 50 cubic metres of water per year. Councillor Quax says that the reduced charge, after tax deduction, equates roughly to the residential fixed charge of $320.

Under the 50 / 50 plan, the large business fixed wastewater tariff would increase by around $50 and the variable charge may change slightly.

People’s Choice organised a 1,500 signature petition to council calling for relief for Manukau’s small businesses which have been hit with a wastewater rate 200% higher than the residential tariff even though they use less than 25% of average residential water use.

The Botany Community Board’s submission on wastewater rates stated that $950 per annum is unfair as the wastewater charge for small businesses most of which are no larger than residences which pay $320 per annum. Board Chairman Michael Williams is unimpressed by the annual plan process.

“First, council officers decided not to disclose the wastewater tariffs in the draft annual plan document.” says Mr Williams, “Then, after more submissions were received on wastewater tariffs than any other issue, council officers offered legal advice to councillors that they could not change the tariff structure because consultation had not been adequate.”

“The decision not to disclose the information was wrong, the legal advice was wrong and the decision is wrong.”

“It is ridiculous to suggest that consultation requirements prevent council from taking submissions to the annual plan into account.”

“Manukau City has a large number of small businesses and we want to see the 50 / 50 plan implemented. Most submitters to the annual plan asked for small business relief during the annual plan process. We want to see fresh, independent, legal advice to councillors because this is not a major change and therefore does not require further consultation.”

“If council officers will not listen to submitters and reconsider the issue, I will ask the board to consider seeking a judicial review of the wastewater tariff decision.”

ENDS

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