Loss for community

Porirua is the kind of town where you can ring the mayor at 10pm and get your water outage sorted, a personal touch that could be lost under a super- city, residents argued at a local governance reform meeting last Thursday.

But the clearest message from the public on regional amalgamation was apathy – the Cannons Creek workshop was attended by just 15 residents, with an equal number of Porirua City Council representatives to answer questions.

Resident Aron Bailey said he rang former mayor Jenny Brash at night when he couldn’t get through to the council’s 24-hour phone line, and she had his water problem fixed that night.

‘‘I thought that was marvellous. If we go to this regional council who am I going to ring up?’’ Mr Bailey said.

Resident Elizabeth French said a region-wide council would have little local knowledge, which can already been seen in Greater Wellington Regional Council’s blunders when revamping Porirua’s bus timetables and bus stops.

The sentiment was echoed by resident Martin Gregory.

‘‘[Amalgamation] would make it more difficult, particularly for working-class communities like us here in Porirua to get the services we need,’’ he said. ‘‘ A community like this will be lost in a big meeting in Wellington.’’

Reducing the region’s councillors and mayors from 107 to 20 or 30 was undemocratic, Mr Gregory said.

Taking on Wellington’s debt, leaky building liabilities and earthquake strengthening obligations was another worry raised at the meeting. The result could be services like swimming pools doubling in price, neighbourhood watch liaison Matt Samuela said.

While council representatives responded to some queries, the focus of the meeting was gauging public opinion.

The Western and Northern wards will host public meetings this week to discuss regional amalgamation and Porirua City’s Annual Plan. The first is tonight at 7.30pm at the Titahi Bay Bowling Club, then tomorrow, same time at the Lighthouse Cinema, Pauatahanui.