Viewpoint – Do you submit?

Ten years into the Supercity and how has it panned out? Unfortunately, Wellsford was slow to get off the mark as people in Wellsford did not understand the submission process. They did not understand that after every Auckland Council election they have to submit on proposed works to footpaths, roads, drainage, park upgrades and so forth. This is to ensure they are included in a works programme. It seems stupid to logical thinking people that you must keep submitting on the same items each time. Ratepayers believe Council has a duty of care to provide the service that they pay for and they should not have to badger Council to get basic items repaired or renewed. But to neglect to submit means the item has no more money spent on it, and it inevitably fails.

Because Council has gone digital and used more social media methods to advertise the submission process, they have neglected the technologically disadvantaged members of our community who are not on social media. These people therefore don’t make submissions, leading Council to erroneously believe that the community is satisfied with the status quo. That’s why it is so important to submit on Auckland Council’s 10-year budget, which closes on March 22. We need to submit or we lose. What goes into this 10-year plan is what will determine what Wellsford receives.

Auckland Council has many branches including Auckland Transport, Heathy Waters, Community Services and more. The people that work in these departments do the best with what they are given. What is hard to understand, though, is the inequity in the amount spent because of population.

To maintain an unsealed road costs 18 cents per square metre. To tarseal 1.8 kilometres of rural road costs $1.80 per square metre. However, to tarseal and upgrade Puhunui Road, in south Auckland, cost $1600 per square metre. This equates to $16 million for 1.6 kilometres. Unbelievable!

I believe that each Council department should complete an infrastructure project in each subdivision. Imagine then what could be achieved in 10 years. Instead, Wellsford is looking at 160 metres of footpath on School Road and a new footpath on Rodney Street in Wellsford, and we may receive a footbridge sometime in the next two years.

On a happier note, here are some positive developments that are worth pointing out …
•    The toilets in Wellsford are still coming.
•    Currys Bush track is near completion, thanks to Caroline Milner.
•    Watercare has upgraded the Hood Street waterline, upgraded the sewerage plant and installed the new water bore to support our town water supply. Awesome effort, thank you.
•    Alan Wallace and his team at Auckland Transport have progressed the unsealed road upgrade programme. They also completed tarsealing of Wellsford Valley Road. An excellent contribution, thank you.

Finally, I will not be supporting targeted rates for our drainage areas. I support the farmers who argue general rates should cover this work.

To submit on Auckland Council’s 10-year budget, visit akhaveyoursay.nz/recoverybudget

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