Media Release

20 November 2009

Mayor urges Rodney residents to speak up

Mayor Penny Webster is encouraging people in Rodney to have their say on the Local Government Commission’s (LGCs) proposed ward and board boundaries for the area and how it will fit into new Auckland super city.

Mrs Webster was commenting after today’s release of the boundaries by the LGC. “There is only a very short period – until December 11 – for people to put in their submissions on these proposals and I am encouraging people to do so”.

The LGC is proposing that the new Rodney Ward, which will elect one councillor to the new Auckland Council, comprise all of the current Rodney District with the exception of the Hibiscus Coast and a small area on the West Coast. This ward will have a population of 53,500 – a population per councillor rate less than other Auckland Council wards.

While the LGC admits that the size of the proposed new rural ward is near the limits for one councillor to provide effective representation given the distance to be travelled for the carrying out of representation responsibilities.

“Our new ward councillor will need to be well supported – both at council and local board level – to ensure that the best interests of all people in Rodney are represented on the new Auckland council,” Mrs Webster added.

The LGC says the remaining part of current Rodney District, the Hibiscus Coast, will be combined with the northern area of North Shore City to form the new Hibiscus-Albany-East Coast Bays Ward and will elect two councillors.

Meanwhile, for local board representation, LGC proposes that only one be established for the new Rodney Ward. However, it has recommended three subdivisions for this local board area based on Wellsford-Warkworth, Dairy Flat and Helensville. The Wellsford Warkworth subdivision would elect three board members, the Dairy Flat subdivision one member, and the Helensville subdivision three members.

It also proposes one local board for the Hibiscus- Albany-East Coast Bays Ward. Again, and suggests three subdivisions based on Hibiscus Coast, Albany and East Coast Bays electing three board members each.

Mrs Webster says the LGC has ignored demands by the Northern Action Group for the northern part of Rodney District – centred on Wellsford, north of the Hoteo River and Dome Forest – be left out of the super city and instead included in Kaipara District and the Northland Region.

“It has gone with the status quo and recommended that the existing northern boundary for the Auckland Region – and the current Rodney District – remain as the northern boundary of new Auckland Council.”

Mrs Webster said the Rodney District Council will evaluate the LGC proposals over the next few days and then decide what it will submit.

“In the meantime, Rodney residents should ensure they let the Local Government Commission know their views on its proposals before the December 11 deadline.”

ENDS

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