Proposal draws criticism from community boards
Some Southland community boards are preparing to take a stance against proposed changes to their makeup, with one saying ‘‘sweeping changes are seldom successful’’.
The Southland District Council’s initial proposal for the 2018 Representation Review was sent out for public consultation and draft submissions from Tuatapere, Wallacetown, Otautau and Stewart Island boards either oppose the changes or have concerns about them.
The review proposes the removal of 19 Community Development Area subcommittees in the district. Areas that previously were represented by a CDA, or had no direct representation at all, will now come under one of the eight new community boards.
In its draft submission, the Wallacetown Community Board is against eight community boards.
‘‘We don’t understand why the district is divided this way. Why is it not possible to have nine, 10 or even 11 community boards; with smaller numbers of board members?’’
While the board proposed its area could be expanded, it says feedback from the community was for Wallacetown to retain its identity and autonomy.
‘‘Sweeping changes are seldom successful. Large changes carry with them an overhead of uncertainty and unforeseen problems...
‘‘By having both ward and community boards representing everyone is the district, you are effectively double representing all ratepayers. That in itself is deception. Who is really representing their best interests?’’
Wallacetown chairman Peter Laurie said the board expected to sign off its submission at a meeting tomorrow.
A draft submission from the Tuatapere Community Board ‘‘wishes to declare, unanimously, their opposition to the formation of a new (combined) community board, which proposes to include the present Tuatapere and Riverton community boards, as well as previous CDAs of Orepuki, Colac Bay and Thornbury.’’
The proposed community board areas would be Ardlussa, Fiordland, Northern, Oreti, Stewart Island Rakiura, Takitimu, Taramea Te Waewae, and Waihopai Toetoe.
The board wanted Tuatapere and Riverton to remain autonomous, saying the two towns ‘‘are dissimilar’’.
The Otautau Community Board’s draft submission stated that they, too, believed there should be nine community boards, with Riverton and Tuatapere separate.
Stewart Island Rakiura Community Board supported the proposal of the eight community boards, on the basis that all residents may vote for a board, but it wanted six elected members and one appointed councillor, not four elected members as proposed.
Southland District mayor Gary Tong said he was pleased with the feedback: ‘‘We need to hear the pros and cons. We need to hear these and have the conversation.’’
‘‘Large changes carry with them an overhead of uncertainty and unforeseen problems.’’ Wallacetown Community Board’s draft submission