Councillor Cowley's weekly Confab (The Weekend Sun, August 2) wrote, the reason why the council cannot behave like a business is because government only exists where the market has failed. His example of this, and I quote: 'The market has failed to deliver drinking water to Tauranga households at an affordable price”. Perhaps the councillor could enlighten me when this failure or failings took place.

The councillor also mentioned that he is amazed his council can deliver drinking water, four times cheaper than private business in Australia can.

You need to compare apples with apples to make a fair comparison Mr Cowley, not with other countries with different infrastructures and resources, but cities within NZ of our size.

When suggesting how amazingly cheap our water is compared with Australia, you have conveniently overlooked such things as the exchange rates and that the average Australian salaries are as much as 32 per cent greater than ours. We shouldn't let the facts get in the way of a good story, should we councillor.

Brian P Porter, Welcome Bay.

Cr Cowley's response, below:

Water supply - a hard comparison

Thanks Mr Porter - you've raised great questions.

The Local Government sector is developing benchmarks so anyone can compare their council's water supply services with any other area in NZ.

But until then, it is really difficult to compare, as each council has unique situations.
Some councils fund their water supply through targeted rates across an area, such as Hamilton, Queenstown and Napier.

Some councils have a combination of both targeted rates and meters, such as Taupo and New Plymouth.

Although New Plymouth,s water meters are cheaper than Tauranga by 68 cents per cubic metre, you can still taste the flavour of duck after the water has been treated.

Dunedin has quite low charges at $1.40 per cubic metre, but their network is ageing and will require significant upgrades in the future. Wellington charges $1.87 per cubic metre, although the Wellington Regional Council sources and treats the region's drinking water so you need to take into account both council's charges.

Fixed charges for each council also vary significantly.

Matt Cowley,
Tauranga City Councillor