Disinfranchisement like ‘kick in teeth’

ARROWTOWN is facing political oblivion after an independent advisory group’s recommendation the historic township be merged into a new ward including distant Jacks Point.

The group has concluded the Arrowtown ward should go because its resident population is 20% short of ‘‘fair representation’’.

The township has had its own councillor since the days of having its own council, and former councillors Scott Stevens and David Clarke are spitting tacks.

They are upset noone from Arrowtown was on the advisory group, yet Wanaka had two representatives and Glenorchy one; the group recommended a new WanakaHawea ward rise from three councillors to four.

Queenstown Lakes District Council spokesman Jack Barlow said it advertised for expressions of interest, but noone from Arrowtown put themselves forward.

Both former councillors said noone they knew, knew of the opportunity.

Mr Stevens said getting rid of the Arrowtown ward was like a ‘‘kick in the teeth’’.

Mr Clarke said while his preference was to retain the Arrowtown ward, if the township had to be part of a bigger ward, ‘‘it needs to reflect the makeup of the people who use Arrowtown as their sort of town, and that means the school catchment zone or the [Arrowtown] rugby club catchment’’.

Putting Jacks Point into the same proposed fourcouncillor Kawarau ward as Arrowtown was ‘‘bizarre’’.

Current Arrowtown councillor Heath Copland said it would be a ‘‘great shame’’ if the Arrowtown ward simply ceased to exist.

A criterion for being a standalone ward was unique character, Mr Copland said.

‘‘And I firmly believe, of all places in the Basin, Arrowtown certainly is one of unique character.’’

Asked about the logic of placing Jacks Point and Arrowtown in the same ward, along with Gibbston, Lake Hayes Estate, Shotover Country and Arthurs Point, Mr Barlow said the proposed structure was formulated with the intention of creating ‘‘fair and equitable representation based on population numbers and potential areas of commonality, common interest, pressures or issues’’.

The advisory group’s recommendations will be presented to council on June 30, before going out for consultation from July 5 until August 6. — Mountain Scene