infonews.co.nz
INDEX
COUNCIL

North Shore City Mayor urges residents to make submissions on boundary proposals before 11 December deadline

Saturday 28 November 2009, 8:39AM

By North Shore City Council

444 views

NORTH SHORE CITY

North Shore City Mayor Andrew Williams is urging North Shore residents to make submissions on the boundary proposals recently released by the Local Government Commission.

Submissions close at 5pm on Friday 11 December.

The proposal released by the Local Government Commission covers the entire area of the new Auckland Council which will replace all seven existing councils on 01 November next year. The main aspects of the commission’s proposal are:

1. Electoral ward boundaries for the new Auckland Council. The boundaries of the ‘electorates’ of the 20 councillors who will sit on the new Auckland Council.

2. Boundaries and electoral makeup of the proposed 19 local boards. The local boards are a second tier of local government, similar to but not the same as community boards under the current structure.

3. The northern and southern boundaries of the new Auckland Council.

Mayor Williams says that he believes the commission’s proposals are a useful first step, but the proposed political structure is very different from the existing system.

“It is vitally important that our community has the chance to consider and submit on this plan which sets out how the councillors and board members who will serve them are elected.

“Indications are that the 19 proposed local boards will play a significant role in the new Auckland Council structure, reflecting community views, developing local plans and driving many local initiatives.”

However, he says, it is likely that the submission period for the boundaries will close before the release of the third reorganisation bill which will clarify the exact role the local boards will play.

“Despite the uncertainties, I strongly urge our North Shore residents to make themselves aware of the Local Government Commission proposals and to submit their feedback before the 11 December deadline. “

He says that the council and community boards will be making submissions which express a general viewpoint - “but our North Shore individuals and groups will be greatly affected by this change, and I sincerely hope that they have the opportunity to make submissions despite the very tight timeframe imposed and the difficult time of year.”

The Local Government Commission proposals and submission details are on www.lgc.govt.nz under “Proposals for wards, local boards and boundaries for Auckland.” They are also available at all North Shore libraries and council service centres.