“Investing in infrastructure is key to ensuring that the city can grow and meet the environmental requirements set both by law and the rising expectations we have as citizens. This will clearly result in increases in rates, but a failure to invest in key assets will cost much more in the long run.
“Look at the mess other places are in by a failure to act.”
He said too often councils tried to keep rates down at the expense of key infrastructure projects, but Palmerston North would not fall into the trap.
The youngest candidate, William Wood, said the new wastewater treatment plant was a necessity, not a “nice to have”.