Pros and cons of super-city heard

If you want to put a bet on the future shape of local government here, a single council for the Hutt Valley may become a frontrunner.

Amalgamating the Hutt and Upper Hutt councils appeared to be the steer from Local Government Commission chair Basil Morrison last Tuesday when the LGC was hearing submissions on the draft proposal for a super-city.

Morrison asked a number of those making submissions for their view on one Hutt Valley council and noted most people seem to accept the need for change.

The difficulty he faced is that despite indicating they would accept some change, getting agreement on what form that should take was not easy.

That was why he was asking submitters about the one Hutt Valley council option, he said.

Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy came in for both praise and criticism from submitters at the Lower Hutt hearing.

Eastbourne resident Patsy Jorgenson argued that Auckland should serve as a warning against a super-city.

The cost of its super-city had been higher than expected and rates are predicted to rise steeply, she said.

Many older Hutt Valley residents are already struggling on a fixed income and simply could not afford a big increase in rates.

‘‘I know there are rates rebates but at the end of the day there is no free lunch and someone has to pay.’’

Rather than rushing into a super-city, she suggested waiting to see how it works out in Auckland.

‘‘If mistakes are made, then we can make sure we don’t repeat them.’’

She told the commissioners that Guppy seemed to have a good understanding of the issue and is someone they should listen to.

Former Hutt City mayor David Ogden was a dissenting voice amongst the anti supercity submitters; to him one council for the entire region was best.

Previous amalgamations had ‘‘by and large’’ been successful and he could not see why a super-city would fail. He argued in favour of retaining community boards and committees.

‘‘As much as I have a lot of time for [Upper Hutt mayor] Mr Guppy and the current popular mayor of Lower Hutt, we can achieve so much more as part of Wellington.’’

Earlier in the meeting Normandale Residents Association chairman Peter Matcham said he accepted there was no perfect form of local government.

The debate over the future structure should not be limited to just financial issues, he said.

Environmental issues are just as important and he said the Greater Wellington Regional Council had done a good job in that area.

The GWRC had not done as well in economic development but Matcham argued that did not justify getting rid of it.

He likened a super-city to a hostile takeover in the commercial world.

‘‘In such circumstances the promised gains are never achieved and the process simply becomes asset stripping.’’

The Auckland super-city had not worked and Matcham said there is no support for the Wellington proposal.

He called on the LGC to look for other options.

Matcham saw ‘‘ some logic’’ to the idea of one Hutt Valley council.

Wainuiomata Community Board chairman Karl Dickson said consultation showed people value local democracy.

Jo Taylor told the commissioners the Auckland model has been all about empowering big businesses and developers.