Submission details
| Submission ID | 9408 |
|---|---|
| Name | Dave Doggart |
| Date | 27 March 2026 |
| 1. Do you have any feedback on the IAWAI Water Services Strategy? |
I am generally supportive of the strategy, I am not supportive of the calculations used to determine water charges for existing households. While all households are facing increases to fund the provision of water services, the increased costs are disproportionate.
A house worth $500,000 faces an increase of 20.36 % A house worth $720,000 faces an increase of 18.51 % A house worth $1m faces an increase of 17.24 % A house worth $1.5m faces an increase of 16.14 % While I acknowledge that this charging structure is fixed terms, allowing time for the provision of usage charging, the percentage increase faced by all households should be the same - those lower valued properties should not be facing a higher percentage increase than higher value properties - especially when considering that higher value properties are likely to be larger, have more bedrooms, bathrooms and the like and therefore be higher users (by volume) of water services. |
| 2a. Do you support a growth pays for growth approach for new residential and commercial developments, including the use of growth charges to help fund growth-related infrastructure and services? |
Yes
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| Please provide comment. |
I am generally supportive of this growth-for-growth, and while not an expert in such charging, I suggest caution in the long-term rating approach. Property developers should also shoulder a portion of these costs to encourage infill development (as opposed to urban sprawl), noting that infill development is cheaper to provide infrastructure for - requiring upgrades as opposed to completely new.
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| 2b. In the current residential growth charges proposal secondary minor dwellings (i.e. granny flats) may be treated as ½ HUE. Do you support treating secondary minor dwellings as ½ HUE? If you have an alternative proposal, please explain. |
Yes,
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| 3. How would you prefer IAWAI engage you? |
E-newsletter, Antenno app
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| 4. Do you support IAWAI’s Significance and Engagement Policy? |
Partially support
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| 5. Do you have any feedback on the Significance and Engagement Policy? |
I think that IAWAI, while not legally required to consult on its annual water services budget or when entering certain unplanned public–private partnership development agreements, should do so to maintain good faith and transparency with its customers. Customers should be able to provide feedback on the proposed budget (as that will ultimately set the pricing) and customers should also see and comment on partnership arrangements, particularly where they may be underwriting or subsidising such activities.
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| 6. Do you support IAWAI'S Waiver Policy? |
Yes
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| 7. Do you have any feedback on the the Waiver Policy? |
No - Fully support the waiver policy in the current format.
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| Are you giving feedback on behalf of an organisation? |
No, these are my own personal views
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