Rebecca Turner: Say yes to a better future for the Bay

Rebecca Turner

This coming week is going to be exciting. For the first time in a generation we get the opportunity to vote for an amalgamated council for Hawke's Bay. We get the opportunity to have a regional strategy, one regional plan and vision, and regional leadership that will be heard in central government. This voice will be representing 158,000 people and central government will know that Hawke's Bay is united, and has stopped wasting ratepayer funds on the duplication, disagreements, and squabbling that has gone on for way too long. Central government will see Hawke's Bay as one, rather than five competing bodies all going after the same dollars.

Over the next three weeks we will vote on a new structure but it is not until next year that we will have the opportunity to fill this structure with the right people to lead us. That's when we'll elect a new Hawke's Bay council, new local board members, and a new mayor of the region. I believe that passionate Hawke's Bay people with fresh enthusiasm will put their hands up to be part of this exciting opportunity to really get this region humming.

A transition body will come into being after a positive vote, and this will be in place until the local body elections next spring. It will not replace the current five councils, but will work alongside them. It will have the responsibility of:

-Making recommendations to the Local Government Commission on matters of policy.

-Providing advice to the commission including in respect of allocations of decision-making responsibility for non-regulatory activities to the local boards.

-Exercising any powers and responsibilities delegated to it by the Local Government Commission.

-Appointing an interim chief executive for Hawke's Bay Council.

The transition body will consist of two nominated members from each of the five current councils and an independent chair.

When we vote yes to amalgamation it won't automatically fix the woes of the region. September 16 won't see new and improved social statistics and a massive bump in permanent, well-paid jobs advertised. But an amalgamated regional structure will be a framework for improving the region's prospects through governance which allows our consenting, environmental, economic and social planning to be cohesive and coordinated through a regional strategic plan. We'll finally have the hardware to move Hawke's Bay forward, together.

While the AmalgamateHB team has worked to get the positive message out, we've also received comments from people who are all for uniting the region, but are struggling with a small aspect here, or the inclusion of something there, in the proposal.

The Local Government Commission's final proposal is an amalgamation of the wishes and ideas of many individuals and organisations from around the region. There may be elements you do not agree with. There are one or two that I do not agree with. But the reality is that this was always going to be the case with any proposal regarding the future of the entire region. Weaving together everyone's opinions on a major idea is always going to involve compromise, and the LGC have come up with a pragmatic solution that balances the interests of all.

So keep in mind when your voting packs arrive next week, that what you are voting for is a structure that will better serve Hawke's Bay as we work to reach our potential.

It's a structure that can deliver savings of $10 million a year, as well as comprehensive regional planning and a strong and unified voice with improved local democracy through local boards.

I know change can be frightening, but in the words of former US President John F. Kennedy: "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."

Imagine how good this could be. Hawke's Bay is in a position to develop into New Zealand's leading region. Let's make that a reality. Let's get there together.

Any questions relating to amalgamation can be answered by reading the Local Government Commission's Final Proposal, available at lcg.govt.nz or amalgamatehb.co.nz.

-Rebecca Turner is chairman of pro-amalgamation group, A Better Hawke's Bay.

-Viewpoints on the Hawke's Bay amalgamation debate can be submitted for consideration and will be used as long as no council resources, money, time or expertise are used in their preparation. This is a requirement of the Local Government Act 2002.