One board to go
A mix of community boards and ward councillor committees seems the way forward, with Western Bay of Plenty District Council adopting its final proposal reviewing its prepresentation arrangements for the 2019 and 2022 triennial elections.
After a comprehensive consultation and engagement process to gain better understanding of the community’s views on fair and effective representation, and communities of interest, the final proposal would see the number of councillors elected from the existing three wards remain at 11 councillors and one mayor elected, with the first-past-thepost voting system retained.
Waihi Beach, Maketu and Te Puke community boards would be retained in their current boundaries, while Omokoroa Community Board would be disestablished. There would be a minor boundary adjustment between the Katikati/Waihi Beach and Kaimai wards. Katikati Community Board is retained in the adjusted boundary. Ward councillor committees would be established for the Kaimai ward, including Omokoroa; the Matakana Island and Rangiwaea Island parts of the existing Katikati/Waihi Beach ward and the eastern end of Maketu-Te Puke ward.
Mayor Garry Webber said the decision is the most pragmatic solution that council could achieve in order to acknowledge the wishes of all the district’s communities.
“This will satisfy the requests of the majority of submitters and shows that we are happy to go out and talk with our communities, listen and to respond.”
Council undertook a preliminary informal engagement process in March and April this year including a mailout to every household in the district. The 970 responses received helped council develop the initial proposal.
The initial proposal was to replace the five existing community boards with three community committees, whose boundaries would match the wards and have a membership of people nominated from the community through an expression of interest-style process. The intention was to create a fairer and more effective way to represent all the district’s communities of interest.
Further consultation events took place through July and August, including nine community have-your-say meetings, resulting in 460 submissions, which council considered when framing its final proposal.
The final proposal will be publicly notified on October 2 followed by a one-month appeal/ objection period through to November 2.
If any appeals or objections are received a final determination will be made by the Local Government Commission (which is independent of council) by April next year.