Rural rip-off

This year Environment Canterbury inflicted a hefty rate rise on its citizens.

The Timaru District Council chose to increase rates by more than 10 per cent. In particular this was justified by four flagship projects – Aigantighe Art Gallery, Aorangi sports stadium, Timaru CBD do-up and combating coastal erosion.

Rural ratepayers bore the brunt of this by paying 30 per cent more. Those least likely to benefit therefore pay three times as much.

Now our three water assets (we also paid for these) are to be handed to central government with very little compensation.

Rural ratepayers who now pay three times more for little benefit are about to have part of what has already been paid for taken.

Ripped off again. Donald Aubrey Geraldine