Hamilton’s water is ours to protect—not a cash cow for bureaucrats.

Leaking pipes waste 6-10 million litres daily—876-1,460 Olympic-sized pools yearly—costing you $4.38-$7.3 million. I oppose the Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO) and its meter rollout, a sneaky tax on families and seniors pushed with misleading council tactics. My 2025-2035 10-Year Plan saves your wallet with proven, cost-effective solutions for potable water, tackling leaks step-by-step. No more whimsical, unfettered spending—I’m fighting for ratepayers.

Why I Oppose the CCO and Water Meters

The CCO and its meter rollout are a financial trap, misrepresented in council’s skewed 2024-2025 consultation. Most submitters backed shared Hamilton-Waikato responsibility, misled by questions hiding the true cost. Here’s why I reject it:

• $500-$1,000 Household Tax: Meters and CCO billing add $500-$1,000 to your yearly rates, hitting families and seniors hardest. (Auckland Watercare model.)

• $50M-$100M Setup Waste: CCO startup costs $50-$100 million, stealing funds from leak fixes or roads. (NZ council estimates.)

• $10M+ Staff Risk: No plan for 180 water staff, risking $10M+ in redundancies. (Salary estimates.)

• 6-10M Litres Wasted Daily: Leaks lose enough water to fill 876-1,460 Olympic pools yearly, costing $4.38-$7.3 million, ignored by the CCO’s meter focus. (NZ Water Loss Guidelines, 15-25% loss.)

• Misleading Consultation: Council’s 2024-2025 questions tricked submitters into supporting a shared CCO, betraying our trust. (Community feedback, May 2025 vote.)

My Plan: Saving Money, Protecting Wallets

I’m delivering a water system that’s affordable, local, and practical, carefully studied to ensure potable water without wasting your money. My 2025-2035 10-Year Plan tackles all leaks systematically:

• Fix Leaks, Save Millions: Roll out acoustic detection to cut 20-30% of leaks initially, saving $0.9-$2.2 million yearly.  Modern, sophisticated strategically placed water meters, detect most leaks in real-time; we’ll scale up to fix 80-90% by 2035 with pipe replacements and household audits, saving $3.5-$6.6 million annually.
• Keep Water Local: Council-run services ensure transparency, not CCO bureaucracy.
• Study Vertical Slow Sand Filters: Research vertical slow sand filtration—a space-saving innovation inspired by London’s proven horizontal filters—for chlorine-free, potable water at lower cost.
• Investigate Chlorine-Free Micro Systems: Explore household UV and reverse osmosis systems for chemical-free, potable water, using proven technologies.
• Promote Rainwater Harvesting: Offer rate rebates for household rainwater systems, cutting mains demand and easing leaky pipes, saving you money.
• Affordable Rates: Cap water rates to meet UN standards, ensuring no Hamiltonian pays more than they can afford.

Why It Works

My plan saves $4.38-$7.3 million in leak losses, starting with $0.9-$2.2 million yearly and scaling to $3.5-$6.6 million by 2035. It rejects the CCO’s $500-$1,000 tax and protects our 180-water staff. By studying proven solutions like vertical filtration over the 2025-2035 10-Year Plan, we deliver potable water without risky spending. I’m putting your wallet first—no more council tricks or unfettered ratepayer cash grabs.

Join the Fight: Say no to the CCO tax and yes to affordable, local water. Support my plan and volunteer today!