Waimate District Mayor Craig Rowley has extended an invitation to Local Government Minister Simeon Brown to visit the district for a firsthand look at rural water supply schemes.
In a letter sent to the Minister last month, the Mayor emphasised the importance of these schemes to the local agricultural sector and raised concerns about the financial and operational challenges posed by new water quality regulations.
The Waimate District operates six rural water schemes, supplying water to stock, houses and farm buildings. These schemes, some of which have been in operation since the early 1900s, are largely community-driven and rely heavily on local involvement.
Bringing these up to the same standards as urban centres would place a huge financial burden on small rural communities.
Mayor Craig called for differentiated service levels for rural water that would account for the specific needs of these communities, contrasting them with urban centres that often follow a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
In his letter, the Mayor also commended the Government's willingness to reconsider water management policies, particularly in relation to rural water governance. He expressed hope for more locally tailored solutions that would ease the regulatory and financial burden on rural schemes.
The full letter is available to view here.
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