Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) has welcomed today’s announcement that the Green Party will invest $20 million per year for ten years, as part of their Sanitary Works Subsidy Scheme, to help small towns and communities upgrade their sewage treatment systems and implement land-based disposal solutions. 

This investment from the Green Party is welcomed and will help to aid small communities who struggle to pay for the infrastructure required to keep our waters clean.  However, LGNZ would like to see more funding allocated to the scheme. 

LGNZ President Lawrence Yule says, “wastewater costs are significant and $20 million per year is unlikely to reach far enough to alleviate the problems that small towns face when funding maintenance and renewal of wastewater infrastructure.  Although, this is certainly a step in the right direction.” 

“The Green Party policy is timely given LGNZ's 3 Waters project which has been launched for local government, as a sector, to establish a clearer picture of the performance of drinking and wastewater assets and services.” 

“Local government welcomes policy from political parties that provide practical funding assistance to meet new water quality bottom lines,” says Mr Yule. 

Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman said that in the run up to the election the Green Party would announce further policy in this area.  LGNZ looks forward to these announcements to assist small New Zealand towns to maintain clean and healthy rivers for their communities.