Wheelie bin war a test case for local democracy

Government support for grassroots democracy under a Super City structure is being tested by a battle over wheelie bins for Waiheke Island.

Prime Minister John Key last week promised islanders greater community control over what happens there when he released the Government's vision of the future of Auckland. This was followed by Local Government Minister Rodney Hide warning councils to be careful about making decisions that could affect the new structure.

But the Auckland City Council plans to replace more than 25 years of locally owned and operated recycling on Waiheke with a 10-year, multimillion-dollar waste contract with an outside company.

More than 30 islanders travelled to Auckland last Thursday to support a notice of motion calling for a halt to the tender process until the Super City is in operation.

Island resident John Hawkesby urged councillors to understand what "works and makes sense" for the environmentally sensitive community.

The notice of motion, put up by City Vision councillor Leila Boyle, was lost six votes to two at the city development committee.

A final decision on the bins will be made by the full council next month.

Later, Mr Hide said that under existing laws it was not appropriate for him to intervene in the "wheelie bin test".

But to the extent that it was a local delivery issue, Waiheke residents would have a greater say under new powers for community boards.

In its report, the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance cited the wheelie bins as an example of rocky relations between Waiheke and the council.

The commission heard how it was not until after the council began the process to introduce the bins that the community board had the chance to comment on the scheme.

"Submitters said the unique character of the islands was not recognised or understood by Auckland City Council," the report said. "The main problem seems to be that most decisions are made in downtown Auckland."