Auckland City Council - City Scene

Waste Water Levies Down

Waste water levies imposed on Council's by Water Care Services are set to come down in this current financial year.

Auckland's deputy mayor, Dr Bruce Hucker, has been advised by the chairman of Water Care's Board that a planned 12% increase in the Company's waste water levy will now be reduced to 7%.

This would decrease the company's expected nett profit by $2.5 million this year.

Doctor Hucker describes the lower levy as very good news for the city's water consumers. "The Chairman of the Metrowater Board has said Metrowater will pass on to its customers the benefits of a lower waste water levy when it produces its revised tariffs.

"The 5% drop in the levy passed on to consumers, would certainly help many people struggling to pay waste water costs under the present charging system."

Doctor Hucker who also chairs the shareholders' representative group said the Water Care Board had been told that its new owners (the Councils) preferred the Company to produce a zero return on its investment at present.

In this way, customers would receive direct benefits in the form of lower waste water charges

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