Councillor calls for more local water schemes

June 5th, 2012

Local community water supplies are better for walter security than big projects such as the Lee Valley Dam and the Coastal Pipeline, a Tasman District councillor says.

In her latest email newsletter to her constituents, Golden Bay councillor Martine Bouillir explained why she was the lone voter against the Lee Valley Dam at the council's recent deliberations on submissions to its Long Term Plan.

She was also one of the minority of councillors who wanted to delete the Coastal Pipeline from the plan.

"I keep reiterating to council that we are living beyond our means with water and we need to take more seriously the idea of smaller satellite systems and people providing their own water wherever possible," she wrote.

"I do not trust the national and global agendas of monitoring water quality and standards - I see it more as tying up and controlling community water systems which will inevitably lead to privatisation/corporatisation of another necessary life source for us all.

"It is particularly concerning to see such 'Water Management' workshops offered to councils as being sponsored by water specialists like Ingenium - who just also happen to be fracking experts with links to weapons manufacturing. A quick google turned that up - so I am naturally somewhat sceptical.

Comment by Ron Nuttall:
[Posted 11 June 2012]

I wish to agree with Councilor Martine Bouillir and what appears to be her concerns that councils might take advice through workshops presented by the likes of "Ingenium" or any other company that is known for their interests in privatising and controlling council services purely for their own financial gain.

I also agree that local community and personal water supplies are best for water security. Here once again we see a situation where bigger is not always better.

It also concerns me how easy it would be to represent publicly that a water supply was below standard purely to achieve unnecessary changes for personal gain. An example of this was when some, pushing for a swimming pool in Motueka, tried to have the salt water pool condemned as polluted even though it filled and emptied with each tide.

>> , to be added to the page. [If this link doesn't work, use this form instead]

[ Return ]
[ Other news articles ]

We wish to thank these local community-minded businesses who generously sponsor our site. They recognise the value of supporting this community asset, and in return Motueka Online is pleased to use and recommend their services whenever appropriate.

Ray White Motueka, Motueka Floral Studio, Nelson Building Society, House of Travel