Saturday May 12th, 2012

Council survey rigged says group

A council survey of residents has been dubbed ‘rigged’ by a group campaigning against water meters and user-pays charging.

Paekakariki Action Group Against Water Meters says the Kapiti Coast District Council’s survey of residents prompts them to oppose meters by giving them information on water charges without noting that estimated costs are speculative and subject to change.

“Respondents are being given figures for the cost of water as if they are carved in stone. Actually the figures, made on the basis of household size, are estimates, and the cost per litre is subject to both planned future rises and possible alterations at a later date,” says spokesperson Sam Buchanan.

“There are many uncertainties in the charging model which are not being pointed out to people. It’s a bit like taking a political poll after first telling people that one party will definitely raise taxes and another won’t.”

“People need to be aware that there is no guarantee that they will be paying what the council claims. As the council intends to operate a ‘closed account’ to pay for the water system, if residential water turns out to be lower than current estimates, or running costs higher, the rate per litre will have to be increased to raise the amount required to the system.”

“Despite claiming that people need to be informed on this issue, the council has offered no information on the user-pays project from critical or independent sources. All we are getting is material designed to promote the council’s point of view.”

“The council is throwing out democratic processes – elections, the proposed referendum and the submissions process – in favour of a survey that has been massaged to get the results they want,” says Mr Buchanan.

ENDS

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