We can't leave merger uncertainty to fester

SIMON EDWARDS

Seasoned former local body politician Betty van Gaalen is, as usual, sage with her words on not rushing into a "super-city" set-up in Wellington (see below).

But in the end we do need some finality to this festering debate about the future of local councils and service delivery.

The next local body elections will happen at the end of 2013. The region - through the auspices of the Mayoral Forum - could resolve to have a region-wide referendum on amalgamation options at that time, with a view to enacting any changes favoured by a substantial majority in the following triennium.

That's plenty of time to assess whether Auckland's super-city is flawed or not, and what are its downsides and upsides in terms of expense and democratic participation. Not that we should sit on our hands until then.

There's a lot more that can be achieved in terms of cost- saving and efficiencies sharing services between councils.

Before Christmas, Hutt News reported on some exciting library initiatives - the SMART card that gives Hutt, Porirua, Kapiti, Masterton, WelTec and Whitireia library users access to each other's resources, and, more recently, shared e-Reader books.

This comes on top of shared services that already existing in the areas of emergency management, landfills, water and waste water. But we can go much further.

On page 34, former Porirua mayor Jenny Brash asks the legitimate question, "Why do Wellington, Porirua, Kapiti and the Hutt Valley councils have separate district plans?"

Wairarapa authorities have set the example, with one co-ordinated set of rules for developers, property owners and others to be guided by.

The more shared services, the greater the potential to achieve "best practice", keep rates bills down and, perhaps, ultimately break down the suspicions and parochialism that block full council unions.

An unfortunate aspect of failure to resolve the future of local government is that various councils right now are under pressure to deal with civic administration buildings that pose an earthquake risk.

The Hutt council faces a $23 million bill, and the regional council is now looking into the cost of safeguarding its Wakefield St headquarters. If there are council amalgamations, these buildings may be unsuitable or in the wrong place.- Simon Edwards

- Hutt News