Viewpoint – More changes needed

Well, the local body elections are due this year and we are into the last year of the three-year Rodney Local Board plan. In 2018, we had the introduction of a $150 targeted rate for each ratepayer in Rodney. The targeted rate was for the purpose of delivering tar sealing, bus services and footpaths. The tar sealing was listed as a project in the Rodney Local Board plan in 2017.  I have always argued that tar sealing is a priority for our rural area, not a sideline project.

Some positives that have been delivered to the Wellsford community:
•    The skate park.
•    The bus service between Wellsford and Warkworth.
•    A new toilet block for Wellsford has been approved.
•    Auckland Transport has increased its level of service to Wellsford’s unsealed road network.
Unfortunately, the footpaths have been put on hold for Wellsford. The tar sealing project for the Rodney area has been deleted from the targeted rate and will not see any significant progress.

The Wellsford Greenways Plan to deliver healthy walkways and cycleways around Wellsford is still in the reporting and feasibility stages. The Wellsford Sports collective to deliver a sports complex is in the reporting and feasibility stages as well.

I am disappointed that despite my constant advocacy for better services for the Wellsford community and our rural ratepayers, there has not been what I consider enough change.  Perhaps former Rodney District Mayor Penny Webster summed it up best in a letter to Mahurangi Matters (MM Jan 31, 2018): “The negative effect of block voting outweighs the positive. It is the community that suffers in the end.”  Basically, it is hard to be the sole voice for Wellsford against a Rodney First group within the local board.

Ratepayers in Rodney will end up paying $1500 (per ratepayer) over the next decade via the targeted rate to raise $46 million for transport projects. Mayor Goff has already proposed that there will be another increase to the base rate of 3.5 per cent in the first year for infrastructure.  It is anticipated that there will be further targeted rates for the Auckland Supercity.  

Auckland City ratepayers enjoy a raft of services and infrastructure that Rodney ratepayers do not.  Rodney ratepayers are forced to pay targeted rates on top of their normal rates to get the same level of service. Factor in the fuel tax, and it is a perfect storm.

Where to from here? The important thing now is to decide what you want for the Wellsford area and be a strong and consistent voice for change. It is not enough to sit back and watch from the sidelines. We are in Auckland Council and entitled to the same level of service. The Rodney Local Board needs to have an independent board of candidates that can share and be fair. A board running on a ticket in the Rodney ward will not serve our community well. This has been a hard three years, but your support has been appreciated.

Colin Smith, Rodney Local Board
colin.smith@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz