My Account
Auckland Council’s performance in the past six years came in for a hammering at a series of Local Government Commission meetings in Mahurangi last month.
About 170 people turned out to meetings in Wellsford, Warkworth, Matakana and Snells Beach, as part of the commission’s deliberations on the Northern Action Group’s application to form a unitary council for North Rodney.
At the Wellsford meeting on September 20, resident after resident came forward with examples of how Council had fallen well short of its stated aim of being ‘the world’s most liveable city’.
“I was of the understanding that local government boundaries should be drawn around ‘communities of interest’,” Gordon Levet said. “We have absolutely nothing in common with Manukau or any other part of Auckland city. As a result, we have urban bureaucrats telling country people how to do things they [the bureaucrats] know nothing about.”
About 55 people attended the Wellsford meeting, including commission chair Sir Wira Gardiner, commissioner Geoff Dangerfield and acting chief executive Rewi Henderson.
Sir Wira stated at the outset that the commission had an open mind and was there to listen. Mr Henderson went on to say that the views expressed would be critical in informing the final recommendations.
Residents came forward with examples of how they felt the north was being cheated of proper representation, rates were being wasted and their issues were being ignored in favour of city-centric projects.
Tomarata farmer Brian Mason said the recent decision by the Rodney Local Board not to support a full audit of the Araparera forestry joint venture was a classic example.
“All four local representatives on the Board supported the audit, but it was voted down by the five disaffected representatives from the south,” he said.
The commission was told that the notion that small councils couldn’t afford high infrastructure costs was nonsense.
“Auckland Transport says it can’t justify spending on public transport in the north, but as the Mahu City Express commuter service to Auckland demonstrates, if you leave it to the locals it can be done efficiently and cost-effectively.”
Tapora farmer Julie Cotton gave a passionate appeal for north Rodney to be “released from the shackles” of Auckland Council.
She cited a recent telephone call over wheelie bins, when a Council customer service officer told her that perhaps she was mistaken and that, in fact, she lived in Kaipara.
“The fact that that person working for Council is so uneducated about the north is totally unacceptable, but that is how we are treated time and time again,” she said. “The ‘suit and tie’ brigade in Auckland are completely out of touch with the rural area.”
Farmer Linda Clapham said Auckland Council had been a nightmare for rural communities.
“For $8000 a year in rates we get a wheelie bin which we can’t even use because of the length of drive we have to tow it down. It’s impossible to ever find anyone who is prepared to take responsibility for anything. I believe the natural boundary for Auckland’s north should be the Hoteo.
Several speakers highlighted the state of rural roads and Council waste.
A Port Albert resident, whose property overlooked the Port Albert Domain, said it was not unusual in one week to see parts of the domain mowed by three different contractors on three different days. She had also witnessed the sports field being marked with white paint one day, only to be mowed over the following day.
The use of trades people from the city for simple maintenance work on halls and other Council facilities was also given as an example of the way rates were wasted.
Only one speaker was in favour of remaining in Auckland, but he wanted Council to set-up a specific Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) to manage rural issues.
Next step
The next stage in the process will be for the commission to identify reasonably practicable options for local government in the affected area. If it chooses the status quo, the process will stop. If not, a draft proposal and call for submissions will be notified.
Online opportunity
Community views on the reorganisation issue can be submitted online up until November 11. The questionnaire can be found at lgc.govt.nz
