TIME TO GET WATERWISE
Redland City Council is being pushed to join with Gold Coast Council and refuse to allow the region water provider to implement a massive hike to water rates.
Mayoral Candidate for Redland City Karen Williams says the Council has one last opportunity to prove it has the interests of ratepayers at heart.
“Council meets this Wednesday and the AllConnex debate is again on the table. I’m urging all Councillors to ensure we make it clear to Allconnex it’s time for a re-think. Clearly a water price hike of up to 14% is unwarranted. It’s time for more lateral thinking and honesty on water and frankly Mayor Melva Hobson and her click need to stop thinking about the money and think about the people.”
Councillor Williams, an avid campaigner against the Water Reform imposed on SEQ Councils, is also calling on Logan City to insist Allconnex take a more realistic view.
“This is Mayor Melva’s last chance to gain credibility on the water issue. You only have to look at her 10Year Financial Strategy to see how dependent she has become on water revenue. The Mayor and her supporters need to understand that water is not a commodity.”
Councillor Williams says, “The Mayor seems to have forgotten that the provision of clean water to a community is the essence of government.
It is because of the provision of services like this that Local Government exists. It is vital to public health, vital for existence and instead of doing the job; we are pricing water as if it was beer. It’s just not right.”
Councillor Williams has been pushing to have the complex and unworkable water system changed.
‘This process has been unworkable for Redland City, remains unworkable for Redland City and will continue to cause heartache for rate payers. In a city where Council has let rates spiral out of control they are now turning to water to establish a money flow which pays for their off the planet fringe programs. Redlands residents will not only be broke, we’ll be thirsty.”
Councillor Williams has again repeated her calls for Redland City to lead a charge to unscramble the complex water system.
‘When I raised this in Council last month, I was howled down. The new Leader of the LNP, Campbell Newman, is advocating return of water assets and pricing to Local Government. It can be done and indeed we have a moral obligation to provide water to a community. It is fundamental of Government.”
Councillor Williams says ensuring a clean affordable water supply is not negotiable.
It’s a basic. Not a service about which we can argue the toss on price. I’m deeply concerned that Mayor Melva and the MELVA All stars will simply continue to bury themselves in letter writing and committees at this week’s meeting instead of showing some back bone and demanding an Allconnex re-think.”
“We are now the AllConnex tax collectors. I’m urging Council to vote to refuse to collect fees until a more realistic approach is developed. If that means getting legislation changed – then let’s get on with it. I’m urging Redland City Councillors to get serious about the delivery of this most basic of Government services.”
Councillor Williams says it is time for the blame game to stop.
All that has resulted from the State’s Water Reform has been the creation of huge and costly bureaucracies, enabled by the flashing of packets of cash to some local Councils and now our residents and ratepayers are left to pick up the bill.”
“This is not as complex as the greedy bureaucrats and Councillors make out. It worked before, it can work again and it must be sorted out once and for all. My message to Mayor Melva is quite clear. For the good of our community, give us a drink of water please. You are the Mayor – show some leadership. This is the most basic of basic services a Council can provide and you’re allowing it to be washed away!”
Further information: Bronwyn Hope – 0413 018 457
