Supercity senior fears

BIG INVESTMENT: Age Concern’s Wendy Bremner says Manukau’s older residents have invested a lot in the region and need to know that won’t go to waste under the government’s supercity plan.

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Older ratepayers of Counties Manukau have invested significantly in the region and Age Concern doesn’t want to see that go to waste under the Auckland supercity.

That was the main message in Age Concern Counties Manukau’s submission to the Auckland governance select committee hearing in Manukau last week.

Executive officer Wendy Bremner is concerned the government’s planned changes will leave older Counties Manukau residents in the lurch.

She wants clarity on the costs or savings older Manukau residents are likely to face with the changes.

"A person on superannuation lives on an income of less than $16,000. Imagine trying to live on that – pay your rates, power, buy food, clothing, presents for your grandkids."

Factor in health costs associated with getting old – such as teeth, eyes and ears – and there’s little room to move, she says.

"There needs to be some kind of confirmation that cost savings are going to get passed on to ratepayers – otherwise why are they doing it?"

Older ratepayers are the people who helped to obtain and maintain significant council assets and Ms Bremner says these should be put in a trust so they can keep enjoying them in the future.

Part of this would be ensuring assets such as the Auckland airport shares be reinvested into Manukau.

Older ratepayers have also invested significantly in waste and stormwater infrastructure and Ms Bremner wants to be sure that other parts of Auckland with deferred maintenance will be funding their own maintenance instead of Manukau footing the bill.

Older people should benefit from the consolidation of operations, maintaining rates and water costs at current levels for the next three years and delivering reductions within the next three to six years.

Manukau should also hold on to its topnotch council facilities and ensure they remain "multi-generational".

"There are significant council facilities that Manukau ratepayers have funded like free access to swimming pools.

"That really affects older people because a lot of elderly people do aqua exercise. It’s such a good way to keep fit without damaging older bones."

Ms Bremner’s submission recommended maintaining current funding for major council attractions unique to each council for nine years.

Auckland city has an ageing population and it is predicted that people over 60 will outnumber people under 15 by 2020, she says.

"We need to ensure older people are not forgotten and that they are given every opportunity to be valuable members of our community."

- © Fairfax NZ News