Community prepares for super-city deadline

Waiheke residents are being urged to make sure they get a say over government's third super city bill by getting submissions in by this Friday's deadline.

The alert comes from the island's councillor Denise Roche, the One Waiheke group, and the Waiheke Island Community Planning Group (WICPG).

Ms Roche has been running a stall at Ostend market for the past two weeks, giving out information on making submissions and suggesting key points to consider.

She warns that if local board powers are not enshrined in law the community could be left with few decisions to make about what happens on the island.

Her handouts list reasons why she is opposed to Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) as well as concerns over local decision making, Maori representation, reorganisation of the voting system, and the increased campaign budget for the election of mayor.

She says the stall has been very popular, with many people taking an interest and saying they will put in submissions themselves.

Some residents, such as Basil Holmes, have heeded the call by getting their submissions in the post already.

Mr Holmes says his submission opposing the bill is short and concise as he does not believe complex arguments will have any impact at present.

He lists three key areas of concern - the proposed CCOs, powers and responsibilities for local boards, and restrictions on Maori representation.

And he calls the creation of CCOs "a dangerous measure", saying it will prevent elected representatives and residents from deciding the fate of city assets.

His submission reflects similar concerns from community groups, the Waiheke Community Board, and Ms Roche.

Waiheke Community Board is likely to submit its own worries over proposals for CCOs and how they will interact with local boards.

It also has concerns over the way powers are allocated to local boards, the need for local control over Resource Management Act decisions, sustainable practices in spatial planning decisions, and the inclusion of Maori representatives with voting rights on council committees.

"One Waiheke" members also fear threats to local decision making as well as the proposed CCOs.

They are urging residents to use WICPG's template submission as a way of getting a say on the bill.

The template has space for people to put write their own views on the bill as well as listing the group's main concerns about CCOs, waste management, powers for local boards, and spatial planning.

Spacial planning is an issue of particular concern to both WICPG and the community board as there are fears the bill's proposals do not go far enough.

At WICPG's meeting on Sunday, group secretary Christopher Wragge told the eight members present that spacial planning was all about how land was used.

He said the bill seemed more concerned about city growth and development rather than sustainable use of land.

And he warned peri-urban Waiheke could be lumped in with the urban city when planners were working out what was acceptable.

His group wants residents to make sure they have their say on this and other proposals in the bill so any local government law unacceptable to islanders is not passed by default.

The group's submission template can be found on new website www.waihekecommunityplanning.org.nz

Further information about the bill is available at www.onewaiheke.co.nz or call councillor Denise Roche on 372 6578 and 027 209 7554 (email cr.roche@aucklandcity.govt.nz)

- Waiheke Marketplace