1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,360 Speaker 1: There are ongoing questions about the Government's reasons for intervening 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: in Wellington City Council, given that one of the reasons, 3 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 1: which is that the council is using rates to pay 4 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: for pipes rather than debt to paper pipes, is something 5 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: that actually plenty of other councils are doing as well. 6 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 1: Campbell Barry is Lower Hutsmare and with us Hey Campbell 7 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:18,160 Speaker 1: Hi Heaver. Does your council do it too? 8 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 2: Each council is different, However, it's not uncommon, given council's 9 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 2: financial constraints in the structure that we have to operate within, 10 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 2: for rates to be somewhat front loaded to pay for 11 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 2: the obstructor investment we need to do so, it's not uncommon, 12 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 2: and I would say a number of particularly growth councils 13 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 2: would be in a similar position. 14 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: How many of them are doing it to the extent 15 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 1: that Wellington City Council is though, I mean it's ninety 16 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: four percent rated and only six percent loaded on debts. 17 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 2: I wouldn't be able to say without going through the 18 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 2: detail on that. What I would say, however, is the 19 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 2: solution is in water reform, and one of the solutions 20 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 2: which the Government has put on the table for councils 21 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 2: was announced in August and unless Wanington City Council was 22 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 2: a time traveler, they wouldn't have been able to implement 23 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:04,959 Speaker 2: that in their long term plan in June. 24 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: Well, that is what you're talking about there is the 25 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: fact that the government gave us in August the option 26 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: to be able to put it through this cheaper debt. 27 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, yes, that's right. 28 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: Okay, But that doesn't mean that's the only debt available 29 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: to Wellington City Council. There was always debt options. They 30 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 1: could have just gone and got debt. 31 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:24,399 Speaker 2: I think there are a number of options for councils 32 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 2: and how they choose to prioritize and fund their work programs. 33 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 2: The question from me or for me as that grounds 34 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 2: for intervention because that means that there are a number 35 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 2: of other councils potentially who could be staring down that barrel, 36 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 2: So that that is a concern and I think that 37 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 2: it's one worth raising around this clearly. 38 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: As though not just that, right, this is just one factor. 39 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: There are a multitude of problems there though, wouldn't you agree? 40 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:50,919 Speaker 2: Oh? Look, I think the issues in Wellington City Council 41 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 2: have been well canvassed I don't need to go through them. 42 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 2: Of course, when you create a significant financial whole in 43 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 2: your long term plan a few months after passing it, 44 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 2: I think that's always going to be something that draws 45 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 2: the attention of government, No question, Campbell. 46 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 1: It sounds to me like you don't buy the government's 47 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: reason for intervening. Is that fair? 48 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:14,919 Speaker 2: I don't buy the reason which says you did not 49 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 2: use a tool which we have given you through water 50 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 2: reform in August when they pass their plan in June. 51 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 2: That doesn't add up. What I think should hopefully clear 52 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 2: up the matters is for the Minister to release the 53 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 2: advice that he received from officials so we can all 54 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:30,639 Speaker 2: see that and understand it in its full context. 55 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: Okay, Campbell, thanks for that, man, I appreciate it. That's Campbell, 56 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:36,919 Speaker 1: Barry lowerhearts Mare. For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive 57 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: listen live to news talks. It'd be from four pm weekdays, 58 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.