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NAG chair Bill Townson
The three commissioners who will decide if north Rodney will get the chance to separate from Auckland Council met on Thursday August 13.
Their decision on the Northern Action Group (NAG) proposal to secede from Auckland was pending when Mahurangi Matters went to press. Local Government Commission principal advisor Donald Riezebos said, “The commission is still formulating its decision on this matter and is not yet able to make a statement about it. We will get back to you when we are able to tell you anything.”
The newly-appointed members of the commission, chaired by Sir Wira Gardiner, were considering whether or not to assess the NAG proposal which promotes an independent unitary council to administer the area from Waiwera River north to Te Hana. Assessment of NAG’s proposal was declined a year ago by the outgoing commission, but was ruled unlawful by the High Court in an appeal judgment earlier this year. However, NAG was still required to supply more detail on the southern boundary and also evidence of community support around the greater Auckland region.
NAG chair Bill Townson says these were completed by the end of June but a decision was delayed pending the installation of the new commissioners who took office on August 1. He says that if the commission decides to assess a North Rodney proposal, its first task will be to make available a copy of the NAG proposal and seek alternatives from the public.
“A minimum of 20 working days is allowed for these ‘alternatives’ to be submitted but they can only be in relation to the ‘affected area’ which is just North Rodney,” Mr Townson says.
“The purpose of this part of the process is to get as many ideas ‘on the table’ for the commission to draw on when determining their ‘preferred option’ which then translates into a draft proposal upon which the public are again invited to submit.”
NAG is encouraging the community to put their views on local governance forward. The requirements for ‘alternative proposals’ is set out in Clause 10 of the third schedule of the local Government act 2002.
“Anyone submitting an alternative proposal must provide information on matters such as financial viability and how it will improve efficiency, but they do not have to demonstrate community support.
“So someone who doesn’t like part or all of NAG’s model does not have to settle for the status quo as a default, but can instead put forward their own ideas.”
When the commission has determined a ‘preferred option’ it will prepare a draft proposal, which will then go out for further public consultation. After receiving submissions, a final proposal will be prepared which then has a 60 working day ‘cooling off’ period. During this time, a referendum on the final proposal will be held if at least 10 per cent of the registered voters in the affected area demand it. If 50 per cent or more of the votes are in favour, the proposal goes ahead otherwise it is abandoned and the status quo prevails.
“There are still lots of hurdles to jump but we are determined to keep pushing ahead,” Mr Townson said.
