With reference to notes & links below this post; "Simon Watts is going to propose a cap on rates"...... councils are between a rock and hard place on this one. If central govt do mandate a rates cap, its not because they care about the ratepayer, it will be because they want to force councils to sell assets. Ratepayers have voted for years motivated to keeping rates down at the expense of infrastructure. Meanwhile central govt has continued to pass more cost and liability over to councils. The only answer currently really is rates increases. Cancelling 3 waters is proving to be disastrous.... that was the only 'affordable' option for maintaining and upgrading water infrastructure. Even if you have a septic system and water tanks where I live, the water supply rates are 'uniform' i.e. every single ratepayer has to pay regardless of whether you use it or not. Yes, you can get a small discount if you dont use it but its so little its almost irrelevant.