Fears for a joint debt hike

The amalgamation roadshow spent a day at the Dowse last Tuesday.

Local Government Commission members Janie Annear, Anne Carter and Basil Morrison heard oral submissions from locals with something to say about proposed local government reorganisation.

Many were concerned about money.

Dean Thompson said Hutt City Council had pretty much the lowest debt of all the councils which it is supposed to be merging with.

‘‘I don’t want my rates to be bumped up to take on the other councils’ debt.’’

Neville Watkin said he had been a ratepayer across most of the region’s councils over the past 26 years.

A whole-of-region referendum on any amalgamation proposal could swamp small communities, he said.

Rather than 50 per cent, a 75 per cent threshhold should be required before change, he said.

He wanted a close look taken at Greater Wellington Regional Council.

‘‘We need people in there who can work more co-operatively with other councils.’’

Barry Bailey of Upper Hutt did not support amalgamation, saying the LGC’s proposal would reduce local representation and impose additional expenses on ratepayers, at an estimated transition cost of $210 million.

‘‘ It will reduce the opportunities for people to talk to their local councillors. It’s a lot of money for not a lot of return,’’ he said.

Annear asked whether he thought Christchurch’s single council had been of benefit in the aftermath of its earthquakes. No, Bailey said. ‘‘I don’t think having three councils there or one was going to make a lot of difference.’’

Sharon Henry of Upper Hutt was really concerned that there was no ring-fencing of debt because Upper Hutt had a reasonably low debt profile.

‘‘It is not an attractive proposal for people in Upper Hutt.’’

Ian Young told them that, rather than creating a Wellington super-city, they should challenge existing councils to cooperate towards positive and measurable results within two years, advise the Government to provide incentives to councils to prove their capability of changing and report to the Government on progress before the 2017 General Election.

He served on the Eastbourne Community Board.

‘‘That’s where I learned the council can run rough-shod over a board.’’

Cameron Finch of Lower Hutt said he had run bars and restaurants in the Hutt Valley and Wellington before and was now a self-employed builder.

‘‘I come from the point of view of the general person out there, who doesn’t want to be taken over by something much bigger and out of their control, too big to deal with.’’

Commissioner Janie Annear said many submitters had talked about the frustrations of doing business across different councils.

‘‘Have you found that in your business?’’ she asked.

Finch said he understood their frustration and he acknowledged that some councils were more strict than others but difficulties were more due to individual officers’ differing rule interpretations.

‘‘My attitude is that if you are in business and you need to get something done, you need to work more with the council.’’