Three Waters offers hope for “private” stream maintenance

Auckland Council may be rethinking its policy that streams that go through, or border, private property are not its responsibility (HM August 7). And the government’s 3 Waters reforms may also have a big part to play. Floods caused significant damage earlier this year when streams overtopped their banks. Residents in areas such as Stanmore Bay and Red Beach are angry at a lack of maintenance of silted and blocked waterways, which contributed to the flooding. Residents had assumed that clearing streams was Council’s job but since Auckland Council was formed, maintenance of streams that adjoin p...