'Councils losers' in super-city plan

The Auckland Zoo would pass to the Greater Auckland Council. File picture / Paul Estcourt

Councils will lose many of their assets and be seriously weakened under the radical overhaul of Auckland's local government structure put forward by the four big-city mayors.

Not only will the region have fewer councils, but the remaining councils will lose their libraries, premier parks and facilities like The Edge and Bruce Mason Centre to the proposed Greater Auckland Council.

The mayors have proposed abolishing the Auckland Regional Council and replacing it with the greater council, run by a mix of elected and appointed business leaders, headed by a Lord Mayor elected by all the region's voters. The mayors also want four of the region's seven councils abolished.

The Greater Auckland Council would have sole power to levy rates and set common policies across the region, which could go as far as setting bylaws for microchipping dogs, and tree removal. Councils would become "delivery arms" of the greater council under the mayors' plan.

Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard rebutted the suggestion councils would become glorified community boards and the Greater Auckland Council a super city.

Mr Hubbard said councils would keep a degree of autonomy to reflect their different social, environmental and cultural characteristics.

His deputy, Dr Bruce Hucker, said making councils "delivery arms" of the greater council was a recipe for poor governance. Councils and community boards needed strengthening, and levying rates, development contributions and borrowing were important to keep the special character of the different cities, he said.

Auckland City chief executive David Rankin said the mayors' plan needed fleshing out to determine what assets and functions councils would lose to the greater council.

Mr Rankin said a good example was transport where council and regional responsibilities differed.

"One could argue there is not a lot of logic in those arrangements. They are very much historic. Part of working through this whole thing will be to get clarity of what would be undertaken by the councils and the new authority," he said.

North Shore Deputy Mayor Dianne Hale said she wanted to ensure ratepayers were protected from the loss of assets, such as the Rosedale wastewater plant.

"I'm really nervous that our ratepayers will bear the brunt of costs of upgrading other areas that haven't put the same energy into making sure their infrastructure is being improved."

Meanwhile, Labour MP and former Papakura mayor George Hawkins has slated the mayors' plan, saying it sounds like something "dreamed up at a pub on a Friday night".

Mr Hawkins said the plan was ill-conceived, did not involve the public, councillors or community boards and was "arrogance at its height".

Last Thursday, Prime Minister Helen Clark welcomed the plan as a means of strengthening regional governance in Auckland to produce clear planning and strong leadership.

If there was a "coming of minds" in Auckland, she indicated, the Government would introduce legislation to abolish the ARC and set up the greater council in time for next year's local body elections.

ASSET AND POWER GRAB

Council and ARC assets to go to Greater Auckland Council:

* Auckland Regional Holdings (includes Ports of Auckland).
* Auckland Regional Transport Authority.
* Watercare Services.
* Sporting venues.
* Auckland Zoo.
* Libraries.
* Auckland Art Gallery.
* Entertainment facilities like The Edge and Bruce Mason Centre.
* Regional and premier parks, including Auckland Domain.
* Volcanic cones.

Responsibilities of Greater Auckland Council:

* Single rating system for itself and councils.
* Regional growth and transport strategies.
* Waterfront development.
* Rugby World Cup.
* Funding regional organisations and events.
* Setting up shared services.