A Balclutha pensioner says rates rises over the next six years will force him out of his home of 20 years.
Bruce Graham (69) will today present Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan with a petition containing about 200 signatures, which he placed in 16 shops in Balclutha over the past three weeks to allow ratepayers to register ''utter disgust'' with the 10 Clutha district councillors who approved a district-wide uniform charge for urban water, sewerage and stormwater services with a 10-4 vote on May 19.
The rating scheme introduced in the long-term plan was set to be phased in over six years.
Balclutha, Stirling, Owaka and Waihola ratepayers will face rates increases, while Clinton, Kaitangata, Kaka Point, Lawrence, Milton and Tapanui ratepayers would experience some rates relief.
The average annual Balclutha rates bill was expected to rise $947 over the next six years under the new scheme.
In the first year of Balclutha's rates increases, the rates bill for Mr Graham's Clyde St house has swelled from $2285.09 last year to $2449.94, an increase of $164.89, or about 7%.
Mr Graham said the three waters rating scheme was the last straw for Balclutha pensioners, who were being pushed into poverty.
The rates rises on his property would force him and his wife Lynn to sell their home.
''Why should we have to sell to accommodate somebody else?''
He said the couple did not qualify for a rates rebate due to the income generated by his wife in her part-time job.
Yesterday, Mr Cadogan said he would accept the petition but also ask Mr Graham if he wanted the council to ''officially receive it'', a move which could lend ''credence'' to the petition.
He said that the anger expressed showed the increases were ''out of kilter'' with the district's ability to pay.
Council chief executive Steve Hill said a rates and funding review was scheduled for the year ahead, to be brought into the next long-term plan, but the decision to adopt the three waters rates amalgamation was an informed and transparent one made by the councillors.
Cr Hamish Anderson led the debate in the lead up to the 10-4 vote that pushed through the three waters amalgamation.
Cr Anderson said Mr Graham was ''quite within his right to put out a position to air his views'', but the councillor ''absolutely'' stood by the council's decision.
