Longstanding ARC councillor to retire

Councillor Bill Burrill, Chairman of the Auckland Regional Council (ARC) Finance Committee has announced he will retire from politics in October this year.

Cr Burrill was elected to represent the people of Manukau on the ARC on six successive occasions. His sixth term ends in October. During nearly 18 years of service he has served on all the council’s standing committees with an unmatched attendance record.

During this time he was Chairman of the ARC Parks Committee for nine years overseeing the completion of the Huakaiwaka Visitor Centre at the Auckland Botanic Gardens, the purchase of Scandrett and Waitawa regional parks and the building of the East Grandstand at Mt Smart Stadium.

In addition, Cr Burrill has championed the ARC’s farming operations across its regional parks.

Concurrently he served seven years as a member of the Auckland board for the Department of Conservation, and 15 years on the Auckland Animal Health Committee including 10 years as its Chairman during which time it achieved official TB free status for the farmers in the Auckland region.

“I have taken particular satisfaction from the establishment of and my participation in the Hauraki Gulf Forum,” he said.

The forum, established in 2000 to improve management and understanding of the Hauraki Gulf, is lead by the ARC and involves Auckland’s local councils, central government and tangata whenua. It celebrates its tenth anniversary in March.

After October, Councillor Burrill intends to spend more time on matters closer to home.

“I plan to pursue a much more active role in my own farm business advancing projects which have waited while I have been in public service. Most of all I want more time to enjoy my family and grandchildren,” he said.

ENDS

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