Lone Carterton voice supports super-city

Carterton district councillor Mike Palmers was alone in his support as a councillor for the super-city proposal, saying Wairarapa could not afford to go it alone.

Councillor Mike Palmers was the lone voice to oppose the Carterton District Council's submission against the super-city proposal at a council meeting held yesterday.

The council voted seven to one in favour of sending the submission outlining its opposition to the Local Government Commission's draft proposal.

However, Mr Palmers said he did not believe Wairarapa could afford to go it alone.

"I don't see how the Wairarapa can afford to provide all the services that the regional council does. Quite simply, for Carterton to employ one scientist would be more than a 1 per cent increase in rates."

The council's submission, which will be forwarded to the LGC, states that the council prefers the status quo to the "very contentious proposal" for one Greater Wellington council.

The submission states that the proposal is "very high cost with high risks" and says the council "favours a smaller council which is more in touch with its community".

The submission highlights the council's concerns with the proposed role of local boards.

"A Wairarapa local board is seen as having quite limited powers and authority and it will be subservient to the governing body despite the arguments to the contrary in the commission's report. There will be seven other local boards also advocating and competing for funding and resources despite Wairarapa comprising 75 per cent of the land area of the region.

"The large majority of Wairarapa people are very concerned about representation and local democracy. They do not want a situation of a largely metropolitan-focused council making the big/important decisions relating to Wairarapa's future."

The submission states that accepting the status quo now does not necessarily rule out other options for the future.

"The three Wairarapa councils are increasingly working together in a co-operative manner and, if anything has been gained out of this exercise, it is that there is a greater co-operative attitude among the councils and a high level of support and level of interest from the community."

- The super-city proposal has also been rejected by the South Wairarapa District Council.

Mayor Adrienne Staples and chief executive Paul Crimp were delegated by councillors to "design and prepare" a submission rejecting the super city to be sent to the Local Government Commission.