An update with a good outcome from the last Public Engagement Committee meeting.

We wanted to update on an outcome from the last Public Engagement Committee meeting.

This committee, where anyone from the public can talk directly to the people who vote on decisions at the Council, gives an opportunity for things to be put right.

This is an example of putting something right.

People may recall we were at the very first Public Engagement Committee meeting and 2 ladies spoke about a non Fluoride water supply being made available to the public.

Some people seem to get a bit upset about providing an alternative source of water as they see it as a waste of money, but like all additives with what people ingest, there are people in the community, especially very young children, who are not tolerant of Fluoride added to the water. Many families are purchasing non fluoridated drinking water which is very expensive.

Both of the ladies who presented in February this year worked hard to have a non Fluoride water source provided in the 2024 Long Term Plan.

After the February meeting, in a follow up phone call, we became aware that just $303 of the total $350,000 LTP budget for a non Fluoride water tap had actually been spent.  This $303 was for just ONE water test. The rest of the budget was then spent on other NPDC activities. We wrote about this at the time.

One of the ladies from the February presentations followed up after reading our story. She lodged OIA’s with both the NPDC, and Councils in other regions, who had installed non fluoride taps.

She asked questions about what else the NPDC non Fluoride water budget had been spent on, and who made the decisions to spend that money elsewhere. She asked questions about how a simple non fluoride water source had been provided in other regions.

She came across information where a NZ Court Case found in favour where legislation had to be created, where Councils must provide a non fluoride source, if the community wants one provided.

This information was presented at the Public Engagement meeting in May. The elected officials were asked why only one water test was done – just one test in one location – and then the governance and management team at the NPDC decided to spend the rest of the budget elsewhere.

Elected officials were not involved with that decision and knew little about the background, before this information was brought to these meetings.

The lady who did the presentation in May has been in touch to let us know she has received several emails from the NPDC.  NPDC staff have been asked to investigate possible water sites for testing and supply, and an undertaking has been made to try to find the budget in the next LTP to build at least one non fluoride water tap in the city.

We understand the next LTP is focused on keeping costs down, so replacing the money from the 2024 LTP will not be an easy task, but we also understand a “gold plated” tap does not need to be built, so a budget as high as $350k is not likely to be needed for a simple tap system.

A lot of effort has been made by a couple of people, and we are so pleased to see the representatives on the Public Engagement Committee have listened, and responded, regarding the information that has been provided. 

The intent of the 2024 LTP - to identify a suitable water source and built a tap water supply - was never seriously attempted with just ONE water test.

This is being put right with the 2027 LTP process.