Press Release:

Independence Day: Supercity Good News Story For East Auckland

Botany-Clevedon Councillor Michael Williams and a group of other Eastern Councillors who support the government’s plan to strengthen regional governance are organising a public meeting to encourage residents to make submissions to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Auckland Governance.

On the agenda is an amalgamation of Howick, Botany and Pakuranga Community Boards into an Eastern Local Board with real teeth when it comes to local decisions, sitting underneath a strengthened Auckland Council focused on Planning and Infrastructure.

Guest Speaker The Honourable John Carter, Chair of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Auckland Governance has been invited to outline the government’s plan and hear Councillor Williams and others outline the three changes required to deliver an Eastern Local Board to ensure effective local decision making under the new governance arrangements.

First, Councillor Williams says that most councillors across the Auckland Region support having 20 Ward Councillors and that some support 4-6 Regionally Elected Councillors rather than 8. “We have 40 Auckland MP’s in Parliament, so it won’t be a problem having 24-26 Auckland Councillors” says Cr Williams “It will be very difficult for a single Councillor to adequately represent 120,000 people, more than twice the size of a general electorate”

Second, Cr Williams wants to see 17 Local Boards rather than 20-30. “It is impractical to expect a Mayor and Council to hear 30 annual local board submissions, have regular deputations from 30 boards and for the Mayor to make time to see 30 Local Board Chairs” says Cr Williams “If we have one Local Board for Howick, Pakuranga, Botany and Beachlands, I am confident that we will have a very effective Local Board that not only has the capacity to provide local leadership and the competence to make all local decisions, but will be big enough to be heard by the Auckland Council.”

Third, Cr Williams wants to encourage submissions on the functions of the Local Boards that the government has announced. “The key Functions of these Local Boards should include identifying and communicating local community needs and priorities, making decisions about local roads, local parks, community facilities and local operational policy” says Cr Williams “I would see an Eastern Local Board setting a community annual budget and targeted rate for approval by the Auckland Council then being accountable for the spending of it, allowing the Auckland Council to focus on regional matters such as infrastructure.”

Councillor Williams believes that East Aucklanders will be thrilled if the Government meets both the Regional needs and the Local needs of the city and urges those who support an Eastern Local Board to turn out in large numbers. He says that the government has indicated a willingness to listen to what the people of Auckland want.

“I have the feeling that the Supercity will be a good news story for the people of East Auckland. We may finally achieve independence from Manukau City.” Says Councillor Williams “We want the best of both worlds, to be part of Auckland and to make our own decisions on local matters.”

Councillors planning to attend are Michael Williams of Botany, Dick Quax and David Collings of Pakuranga and Sharon Stewart and Jami-Lee Ross of Howick.

The meeting is to be held at St Columba Church 480 Ti Rakau Drive Botany On Sunday 21 June at 2pm.

Submissions should be addressed to Hon John Carter, Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Auckland Governance, Parliament Buildings, Wellington.

ENDS

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