Viewpoint – Three years later – is Rodney better off?

With this being election year for the Auckland Mayoralty, Councillors and Local Board members, a fair question to ask is, is the Rodney Ward area better off than it was three years ago? 

The Rodney Ward is vast, comprising about 50 percent of the Auckland Council land mass. It is largely rural, stretching from Kumeu in the south, to Dairy Flat and Puhoi in the west, and through to Warkworth and Wellsford in the north. It does not, however, include the urban communities of Whangaparāoa, Silverdale, and Ōrewa. 

As the Rodney Councillor, I’ve been holding regular monthly “Chat with Your Councillor” sessions. These allow people with council-related issues to sit down with me for one-on-one help. I’m pleased to say that around 80 percent of the time, I’ve been able to help achieve a positive outcome. 

When I ask people how they feel the council is performing, the responses are mixed. 

For example, the new council-supplied rubbish bin service starting September 1. Some residents welcome the change, finding it more affordable than purchasing rubbish bags or a bin. Others feel it’s unfair that they can’t opt out of the service, preferring to pay only when they need a bag. 

In Milldale, a rapidly growing development planned to accommodate 15,000 residents, there’s growing concern about the lack of civic infrastructure. Compared to nearby Millwater (which houses 10,000 people), Milldale has far fewer parks, reserves, community facilities, and public transport options. This imbalance needs to be corrected, and I’m actively advocating for a fair share of Council services to support this expanding community. 

The Redvale landfill in Dairy Flat is New Zealand’s largest and one of its biggest gas fields, taking in not only household and construction waste, but also hazardous materials like asbestos and nickel slag from overseas. It’s located directly opposite a primary school and near the Rangitopuni Stream. I’ve heard first-hand how severe the odour can be for nearby residents. Understandably, the local community is firm in its view that the landfill’s current consent should end in 2028 – not be extended to 2036 as the operator is seeking. 

Enforcement of Council bylaws remains a frustration. Council compliance officers are often based too far away to respond promptly, and residents feel this lack of responsiveness keenly. 

On a more positive note, rural Rodney has seen record investment in road sealing. Since amalgamation, the annual road sealing budget has increased from $1 million to over $13 million. The number of grading crews maintaining our unsealed roads has also risen from just one to five. 

All in all, the general sentiment from residents is that council still feels like a bureaucratic beast – often impersonal and sometimes difficult to justify when rates bills arrive. 

At the same time, many residents report excellent service from specific council departments – particularly our hardworking local library staff, who continue to go above and beyond for our community.