Viewpoint – Rural voice needed

When running for election, Wayne Brown promised to “Fix Auckland”. That promise included reining-in the overspending of Auckland Council controlled organisations like Watercare and Auckland Transport, as well as cutting back the council’s top heavy bureaucracy.

Mayor Brown has been in the job for over a year and has had enough time to pinpoint how the spending of the Council Group should be reprioritised, including cutting costs. He has produced a new 10 Year Budget for Auckland, which suggests how the $6 billion of revenue collected from Aucklanders should be spent on council projects and services for the next 10 years. It sets the direction of Auckland Council, Auckland Transport, Watercare and the other CCOs for the next decade. The future of the Ports of Auckland, North Harbour Stadium, shareholdings in the Auckland Airport and rate increase options are also included.

If you are keen to see your rates spent on a particular project or service for your community then, now is your chance to put it to the Mayor. The 10 Year Budget is open for public feedback until March 28. 

There will be a significant number of the senior bureaucracy cut from Auckland Council under his proposal. These are the people on the highest wages. This is part of general cost savings the Mayor desires. Using this saved money, the Mayor would like to triple the Unsealed Road Improvement Programme (sealing gravel roads) for rural ratepayers. This is an increase from $40 million to $124 million for the 10-year period. The Mayor is championing this, however, as with everything in the budget, it will have to go to the vote of the 20 Councillors and the Mayor. (see story)

Of the 21 votes available, there will need to be 11 votes to pass such an increase. 

Therefore, it is crucial to get feedback to all the 21 vote-makers if you support the unsealed roads being better maintained and sealed, or not. You can do this by completing the 10 Year budget feedback form available from the library, or online at akhaveyoursay.nz/ourplan.

Because the new coalition government has repealed the fuel tax used for funding transport projects, the Hill Street intersection rebuild project, due to start this year, has been paused. Every transport project across Auckland will now have to be reprioritised. You may wish to have your say why the Hill Street intersection improvements should not be potentially permanently dropped. Especially since Warkworth will increase in population to over 30,000 people.

There may be other roading, transport, civic, social, environmental, economic or cultural projects you believe your community needs ratepayer money spent on. What is your opinion on the need-to-haves versus the nice-to-haves? Please take the time to make your voice heard.

Every submission will be read by the Mayor and myself, the other councillors, and bodies like the Board of Directors at Auckland Transport, who ultimately decide what local transport projects will be funded for the next decade.