Phones run hot as ARC rate rises shock residents

By WAYNE THOMPSON

The first residents to get the Auckland Regional Council's new direct-rating bills say they are shocked at the extent of rate rises of up to 400 per cent for modest homes.

Ratepayers organisations in Rodney and North Shore reported yesterday that their phones were running hot as people opened their rate demands.

Protests were loudest in Rodney, which does not have a passenger train service.

Kumeu ratepayers chairman Vic Colson said many people vowed they would not subsidise city trains and buses, which are the main reason for the 34 per cent overall rise in rates revenue.

For some people it was matter of principle, said Mr Colson, but for others it was a case of simply not being able to find extra money for rates.

"Four widows near here may have to sell up their homes because they can't pay more."

Transport levies make up nearly half the $250 rates bill for one Kumeu resident, although the township gets eight return bus trips on weekdays.

Orewa Ratepayers' president John Drury plans to launch a petition on Wednesday against the rates rise.

He said the ARC rates increased 81 per cent on a house worth $280,000 - from $89 to $161.

"There are so many retired people in Rodney who have a nice little home they have been saving for all their lives but I'm getting calls from people with young families too.

"Are they trying to force them out of their homes?

"To pay this increase, people will cut spending on doctors, heating and food."

Mr Drury said people opposed the new system of basing the general and transport rate on capital value of homes.

"We will take all steps to nullify the council's actions. If 30,000 of us refused to pay the rate they could not take all of us to court."

Mr Drury said a return to the previous land value-based system would be fairer as a capital value one disadvantaged those with a better house.

The owner of an executive home in a new Orewa subdivision said that the ARC rate had risen from $134 to $279.

Whangaparaoa ratepayers' president John Watson said he was demanding the council justify a 117 per cent increase on his modest home.

His transport levy was $110 but he could not travel by bus to his workplace at Glenfield.

The Rodney representative on the ARC, Brian Smith, said the council would look at the rating and provision of transport services in west Rodney.

He said the capital value system resulted in wide swings in rates and some were paying less than before.

The president of Grey Power Warkworth, Colin Greenslade, said pleas for a fairer system fell on deaf ears at the council's hearing of public comments.

As a result, homes paying $49.63 and $132 last year, would now pay $119 and $172.

Warkworth had no subsidised public transport and was not levied for this.

North Shore City residents have the biggest increase.

An Albany resident said his bill for $151 was a 395 per cent rise for his home valued at $225,000.

He was shocked at the size of the increase.

Takapuna Community Board chairman and former North Shore City Council chief executive Wayne Tisdall said he had never heard of such a savage rates hike.

His rates are up from $133 to $400.

Devonport artist Lyndsay Brock said that the rates on her "ordinary" cottage had risen from $101.56 to $247.

She said ARC councillors showed contempt for 590 ratepayers who went to the trouble to make submissions on the draft proposals.

She has lodged a complaint with the office of the Auditor-General that ARC chairwoman Gwen Bull showed "a predetermined and biased position" during the public consultation over the rates.

Mrs Bull said she made it clear at all public meetings and in all her discussions that capital value was a proposal and open to submissions, as were all other policies during the April and May meetings.

Northcote resident Tony Sharrock said his rates had doubled to $400.

"It's a travesty of justice.

"The Government has billions of dollars surplus that could be spent on fixing transport infrastructure in Auckland but instead it allows the ARC to behave in a cavalier manner to milk ratepayers."