Leggett’s $27m people-power plan

Wellington mayoral candidate Nick Leggett has announced a $27 million plan, which he says will give communities a greater say in governing their suburbs.

Leggett has proposed a ’’community futures initiative’’, which he will trial if he win’s the mayoralty in October.

The initiative will allow Wellington’s suburbs to develop their own 10-year plans in conjunction with the council.

These non-statutory documents will guide council decision-making across a range of issues, including hot-button topics like cycleways and medium-density housing.

The 10-year plans will be supported by an annual milliondollar fund, which could grow to $3m per annum by the 2019-20 financial year if Leggett’s ’’devolution of decision-making to the local level’’ proves successful.

The fund would total $27m over the next ten years and will be sourced from Wellington City Council’s existing $1.7 billion capital expenditure budget.

Leggett’s policy is similar to an initiative playing out in the suburb of Island Bay in the wake of the cycleway saga that soured relations between residents and the council.

In an attempt to fix that disconnect, the council is consulting with the community again on the future of the cycleway, and is also helping residents create a 10-year plan that will guide how the suburb develops.

Leggett said the concept should be extended to all of Wellington, rather than stopping at Island Bay.

‘‘We’ve got to use the Island Bay debacle for good … what we need to do is change the whole way the council thinks about, and relates to, the community,’’ he said.

‘‘Island Bay is one example … where Wellington City Council has treated the community with a bit of contempt.’’

Leggett said his suburban 10-year plans would not be mandatory. If a community wanted one then it could approach the council with its request.

The term ‘‘community’’ would be loosely defined but those involved in creating a plan would need a mandate, meaning a residents association would likely be part of the mix.

But sporting, educational and cultural organisations would also be able to apply for a slice of the annual funding if they had an idea with community backing.

Such projects could include improvements to playgrounds or performance spaces, promoting local heritage sites or enhancing public spaces.

Leggett was confident the 10-year plans would not act as a handbrake to the rolling out of things like cycleways and housing intensification in some suburbs, which has already attracted the ire of Khandallah residents.

It would simply give residents greater input into the shaping of these projects, he said.

‘‘Too often the council says, ‘we’re going to put a park here or put a cycleway down there, and we’re just going to tell people and pretend we’re engaging’ … then there’s a violent reaction,’’ he said.

‘‘So this is about flipping a big chunk of decision-making that affects people’s neighbourhoods, back to them ... it’s quite a game changer for Wellington.’’

The annual fund will not be available for basic infrastructure projects such as local roads, footpaths or existing parks and recreational facilities.

Island Bay Residents Association president Vicki Greco said the 10-year plan concept had been well received in Island Bay, and she liked the idea of rolling it out across Wellington.

‘‘The community is really pleased that they’re being listened too. I think what’s being done in Island Bay now is the way of the future.’’

"This is about flipping a big chunk of decision-making that affects people's neighbourhoods back to them." Wellington mayoral candidate Nick Leggett