For the year ended June 31, 2021, the Western Bay of Plenty District Council collected $24.8m in property rates in relation to Three Waters activities. This made up $33.10 per cent of the council's total rates revenue.

If the Three Waters Proposal goes ahead Council will lose this income and the Government will take over our Three Water's assets currently valued at $323 million.

According to CEO John Holyoake in an email to our association dated June 28: 'It's too early for us to comment on the detail around the water asset transfer and the consequent financial impacts” and 'there are still too many unknowns regarding what assets, what debt and what rates collected etc will transfer. We're not going to work through all the variables and assumptions until we have clarity. We are doing some high-level modelling and can make that available when it is complete, probably towards the end of July.”

Submissions on the Water Services Entities Bill closed July 21. WBOPDC has done nothing to prevent the theft of our water assets, or to retain this income stream, or to consult with ratepayers – or to advise us if they are even making a submission on the bill. Some low level modelling, aka ‘common sense', would have told them this is a very bad deal for ratepayers.

Keith Hay, chairman, Katikati-Waihi Beach Residents and Ratepayers Association.

Editor's Note: When approached for a right of reply, WBOPDC declined in this instance.