Latest news with #Communities4LocalDemocracy
Otago Daily Times
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Dan Gordon running for mayor again
Dan Gordon is seeking re-election as Waimakariri mayor in the October local body elections. Gordon said it was an easy decision to make. He says he leads a hard-working council and is totally committed to the many challenges a rapidly growing district like Waimakariri faces. ''I love the job,'' says Gordon. ''I enjoy being involved, and constantly meeting with many wonderful people who do so much for their communities. ''It is a truly great region to live in,'' he says. Gordon took a leading role nationally during the Three Waters debate, becoming co-chair of Communities 4 Local Democracy, a group of 31 councils strongly opposed to the then Government's actions. He says the group through its outstanding leadership, helped save the council's water assets and ensured they remained in local control. In addition to his local Council leadership, Gordon advocates for Waimakariri nationally as Chair of Zone 5 for Local Government New Zealand, a zone which includes all the South Island except Otago and Southland. He is also on the National Council of Local Government New Zealand. He was voted New Zealand's most popular Mayor in the 2024 Taxpayers Union poll, and he achieved second place this year. In spite of years of high inflation and rapidly rising costs, Waimakariri's rate increases have consistently been among the lowest in New Zealand, Gordon says. ''This year's 4.98% rate increase is one of the lowest in Canterbury.'' He says the council is in a strong financial position and continues to invest in the community while paying down loans for big ticket items such as MainPower Stadium and earthquake recovery projects. ''There is still lots to do,'' Gordon says. ''We need to support our population growth, so that Waimakariri continues to be a great place to live. ''Measures to support this growth include the Government's new Woodend bypass, the need for the proposed Eastern Link bypass road to relieve Southbrook traffic congestion, upgrading Flaxton road linkages and the replacement of Skew Bridge, a key link road to Kaiapoi. ''It is also important to me to continue carefully developing Kaiapoi's regeneration areas, damaged due to the earthquakes, so the town remains vibrant and thriving.'' Gordon says he has ''led the council's efforts in advocating for, and supporting Waimakariri, to secure a vital after-hours medical facility at the Rangiora Health Hub. ''This project had stalled until the council stepped into ensure that this much needed district facility got back on track. ''I am always available, inclusive, and attend as many community events as possible. ''We have a great area to live and work in. We have an excellent council, great staff, and hardworking councillors and community board members. ''I want to continue to be part of this, so standing again was an easy decision. There is still more work for us to do.''
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
It's Time To Have Your Say On Water Reform
Timaru District Council is saying it wants to work with its neighbours to deliver better water services for everyone, as it takes its local water proposal out for public consultation. The consultation, which opens today and runs until 6 June outlines the council's response to the Government's Local Water Done Well reforms and asks for the public to provide their feedback. Timaru District Mayor Nigel Bowen said that as a council they had fought hard for communities to have the opportunity to have their say on water reform, so now it was time to tell us what you think. 'This is one of the most important consultations that we'll undertake as it will have a critical and long-lasting influence on how we deliver one of our core services,' he said. 'Timaru was one of the lead campaigners against the original 'Three Waters' plan through Communities 4 Local Democracy, and we're pleased that through the Local Water Done Well policy that we are able to shape our own ideas for delivering sustainable water services that continue to be locally owned and locally controlled. 'It's been a long road in enabling you to have a say in this matter, and I'm really pleased that you're now able to. 'While Timaru District is in a good position as far as water is concerned, we face long-term challenges for affordability and ensuring that water remains a priority in the face of many other competing services. This is one of the reasons that we're proposing moving to a Council Controlled Water Services Organisation as part of this consultation. 'In this scenario, we create a professionally run council owned organisation solely focused on delivering high quality and affordable water services for urban, rural, commercial and industrial customers. One that is led by a professional board, but still owned by and accountable to the community through your elected council. 'Affordability is one of the key measures of the success of our proposal. Independent modelling has shown that in the long-term water rates will be less expensive if services come from a CCO, and even cheaper if we combine services with our neighbours. 'This efficiency, and the ability to share scarce staffing resources, is the reason that we're proposing to work with neighbouring councils on a joint company that will provide services across the Central South Island region. 'I feel that together we're a lot stronger than the sum of our parts.' The preferred option being proposed by council is joining with neighbouring councils to set up a new water services organisation. The new joint organisation would own, operate, and maintain water services for all the shareholding councils. We would own part of this organisation with the partner councils. We would also give it direction through a special 'Statement of Expectations', which the councils would develop jointly, and which the organisation would need to give effect to. Estimates of a three council CCO with Mackenzie and Waimate District Councils would see the amount people pay for water services sit at $1,670 per year by 2034. A standalone unit remaining within council would cost customers around $1,900 a year. The joint plan also has a number of other advantages including providing specialist oversight, greater capacity and better opportunities for long-term efficiency gains. 'We're not proposing selling off any assets or removing local control. This isn't a pathway to privatisation or amalgamation,' said Bowen 'Our proposal is to create a council owned organisation that will be solely focused on benefiting our community and, hopefully, our neighbours as well. 'Our councils have a history of working together well, whether that's through our existing arrangements on water through the Downlands Rural Scheme to smaller collaborations on waste, roads, liquor licencing and environmental health.' You can read a hard copy of our consultation document in today's The Courier, or online at A series of online and in person opportunities to speak about the reforms will be published shortly.
