Mayor, residents reject plan

Hamilton mayor Bob Simcock has branded a call for a Waikato super council as "dead before it starts" just as residents overwhelmingly rejected the plan in an opinion poll.

Fewer than a fifth of residents support the move, according to an opinion poll commissioned by the Waikato Times.

However, two thirds of respondents in the Versus Research poll of 409 residents did favour smaller amalgamations between neighbouring councils, a concept several mayors say they are already looking at.

On Tuesday and Wednesday night, residents were asked their views on a proposal, led by former mayor Margaret Evans, to follow Auckland's example and merge Hamilton City Council, Environment Waikato and six district councils: Waikato, Waipa, Matamata-Piako, South Waikato, Otorohanga and Waitomo.

The poll showed that 18 per cent of residents were either "supportive" or "very supportive" of the plan while 54 per cent were either "not supportive" or "not at all supportive".

The result adds credence to a statement issued by Mr Simcock that Ms Evans' group's plan will fail because it lacks public support. He said the Government had made it clear it would not force amalgamations against the will of communities.

"The Evans proposal ... is dead before it starts. Rather than debate a proposal that can't succeed we should focus on what can."

Ms Evans today denied the poll result was a disappointment and said her group still intended pursuing a petition aimed at getting 30,000 signatories to force the Government to look at Waikato amalgamations.

"I don't think it's disappointing. It's a brand new conversation.

" What we want to do is get people thinking about it."

She said it was a bit unfortunate that Mr Simcock said the issue should not be discussed given the growth in councils' spending despite the recession.

"This says to me that there's an undercurrent of concern."

The poll of 409 residents had a margin of error of 4.85 per cent. Hamilton residents accounted for 179 respondents while 230 were from outside the city, from across the region.

Ms Evans said smaller amalgamations did not solve the issue of smaller rural districts struggling with affordability because of their smaller rates base. Sharing resources remained one of the big advantages of a super council.

According to the poll, residents who live in Hamilton or Waikato district were more supportive of a super council (19 per cent and 34 per cent). Waipa and South Waikato residents were less supportive (9 per cent and 2 per cent.) But 69 per cent of residents would be supportive or very supportive of their council merging with a neighbour if it meant a rates cut.

Mr Simcock today suggested a merger of Hamilton, Waipa and Waikato would be a better idea than a super council.

- © Fairfax NZ News