Kathie Furlong: Future of Hawke's Bay 'no game'

Deputy Mayor of Napier Kathie Furlong

I agree with Rebecca Turner ... the debate about the future of local government in Hawke's Bay is no game. It's a very serious business.

That doesn't stop the Local Government Commission (LGC) playing fast and loose.

Of course Napier leaders are concerned about the accuracy of information released about the finances and the infrastructure of the councils in Hawke's Bay, because it has an influence on the credibility of those councils.

The LGC says that despite doubt being cast on those figures, and the methodology used to gather them, they still believe that ring-fencing of debt for five years is the way to go.

They can advocate ring-fencing all they like. The more important issue is that those erroneous figures have thrown doubt into the minds of ratepayers as to whether they have been led astray about the state of the finances and infrastructure of each council. Can they trust them? Are they being led by the nose? Who should they listen to?

Really, all anyone wants is truthful information which compares apples with apples.

For a number of years, Napier citizens have had minimal rates increases, significant debt reduction and prudent investment in the essential services and core business of the council: Water, storm water, waste water and roading. Several reports and annual audits have reassured the citizens that Napier is in good shape, financially sound and sustainable into the future.

Now, this LGC pamphlet with its dubious comparisons is being touted as the basis on which residents should rely if they are asked for their opinion in a telephone survey. How independent and unbiased is that?

In 1995, Barbara Arnott and I were elected to the Napier City Council. Shortly afterwards, as part of the Annual Plan process, the CEO advised us that new technology had allowed the council engineers to take a camera down the pipes of the city to check on their condition and thus, plan for future replacement and upgrades. Having this knowledge meant that our asset management plans had to outline the work programme and the annual plans had to fund depreciation of the asset so that the work could be done. Over the next 18 years while we were on the council, every year work on this infrastructure was budgeted for and undertaken. A new water storage tank was built at Taradale, the Cross Country Drain was built, the new sewage treatment plant at Awatoto was funded and built, a new wastewater trunk main was built, all the legacy Taradale country-style roads were rebuilt to urban standard.

At the same time, regular maintenance of roads and pipes was on-going. Any time councillors suggested taking money from the huge roading budget to fund other "wish-list" projects, we were firmly told that our infrastructure assets must be funded at the correct level or we would not get a clean report from the Audit Department.

I take this dive back into history, purely to reassure Napier citizens that past councils had not neglected the infrastructure of the city. They have not been playing with smoke and mirrors.

You are right, Rebecca Turner. The future of Hawke's Bay is not a game. But the stakes are high and the citizens deserve truthful, unbiased information on which to base their decisions.

This latest debacle is not in the best interests of democracy.

-Kathie Furlong is former Deputy Mayor of Napier

-Business and civic leaders, organisers, experts in their field and interest groups can contribute opinions. The views expressed here are the writer's personal opinion. and not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz.