2016 needs to be a step-change for both our City & Regional Councils

2016 needs to be a step-change for both our City & Regional Councils

As Regional Councillors head back for 2016 it is time to reflect on 2015. First let us look at Bay of Plenty Regional Council – I raised issues around managing their costs, and in particular the outrageous staff increases (full of bureaucrats who write reports but do little in active environmental betterment). Has anyone listened – well NO, and to be fair I didn’t expect them to. Staff numbers continue to skyrocket, and if the report in the Bay of Plenty Times is correct, then by January this year staff numbers at the Regional Council now total 328 (up 44% since 2012 !!!).

There are a couple of hard working Regional Councillors, but most just seem happy to receive their salaries, and one (locally based) in particular only attends 50% of his required meetings. This is plain wrong, and the Chairman should have addressed this. BOPRC hide their cost blowouts behind an ever increasing Port of Tauranga dividend (now over $38m), and they are just plain “out of control.”

Tauranga City and Western Bay District Council are no better. Western Bay has gained a reputation as a bully who rides roughshod over landowner rights. Tauranga City do need some sort of accolade, because they certainly have improved their functionality in the last year or so. The fact is that they seem to be listening with regards to the redevelopment of our CBD. The proof however will be in their actions, and whether they have the gumption to action any of the proposals suggested by the CAG (Community Action Group). Somehow I doubt it, because they are so worried about “vested interests” that they can’t see the wood from the trees (take their balmy decision regarding the offer of Gareth Morgan’s wonderful piece of art/sculpture at the Mount). Vision remains in short supply, and our current Mayor appears one of the worst. It is time for a new breed of visionary Councillors to step up at the local government elections in October 2016.

So what lies ahead for 2016 – let’s hope that there is a renewed impetus towards amalgamating Western Bay and Tauranga City. I personally believe that the Western Bay should be a Unitary Council, but I recognise that getting a Unitary across the line would seem too hard. We have around 1,000 bureaucrats employed by local government in the Western Bay, and that is plain crazy. Let’s rationalise the process by amalgamating Western Bay District Council with Tauranga City, as a first step - and let’s do it now. At worst it will make for an interesting local body elections in October 2016. At this stage it is my intention to once again stand to represent Tauranga as a member of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Having stood down from the Crown Agency, Environmental Protection Authority, I am no longer conflicted, and would relish the opportunity to once again represent our local ratepayers. In the earlier 2000’s my by-line was “Action – Not Words” and this just isn’t happening at our ever increasingly bureaucratic Regional Council. We need strong advocates for effective environmental outcomes, and not just PC rhetoric.

What has happened to personal responsibility?

I am not a Climate Change Denier, and I embrace the “Bluegreen vision” of making good environmental decisions based on good science, and not political rhetoric. Sea level rise is Tauranga is not a given when you look at the data collected since 1973 by NIWA (there has been virtually no sea level rise in the past 42 years). That is not to say there won’t be sea surge as a result of major storm effects. But should ratepayers pay for those affected? For example - If you live along Beach Road in Tauranga you know that you are at risk from both storm surge plus a potential Tsunami. The individual householders have made their decision to live there, and they do so in the knowledge of the risk. Local Government – your City and Regional Councils (ie Ratepayers) – should not be held responsible for any poor risk assessments by individuals. I say “let the buyer beware.” Furthermore talking of 1-1.5 metre sea level rise in Tauranga is just plain farcical (and not based on good science).

I commend Hon Nick Smith for his energy in achieving RMA reform, but in my view the current Bill has a couple of flaws, and one of these is in the area of Natural Hazards. By putting the onus on subdivision consent decision-makers to take a risk management approach to consider the likelihood and consequence of all natural hazards that may affect the potential subdivision, we are moving further towards a “Nanny State.” He seems to have missed the National Party’s underlying values that include individual freedom and choice; personal responsibility, and limited (local and central) government.

If you have a view on these or any other local government issues, I invite you to email me

Why have we stopped mechanical mangrove removal?

Regional Councillor Jane Nees, in her 11th October editorial, noted that many people ARE CONCERNED about the rapid spread of mangroves around Tauranga – and yet seven years after the Regional Council made an exciting start by mechanically removing just over 100 hectares of mangroves, no further mature mangroves have been removed. This is a scandal, and it is sad that this programme has been hijacked by passionate, but illogical, greenies. Bill Bayfield (the Regional Council CEO) had the guts to start this mechanical removal, and seven years on the benefits are obvious, and that decision has been justified. For goodness sake Regional Councillors, stop procrastinating and get the job finished.

We were never asking for every last mangrove to be removed from our harbour, but we were entitled to expect at least 400 hectares cleared. You receive $40m a year as a Port dividend, and we expect you to made a serious attempt at remediating the sedimentation and nutrient buildup. You are doing catchment improvements for the rivers that enter our harbour, but unless you get out of your ivory tower and re-start the mangrove removal, then you might as well kiss your past good work goodbye. We were told in 2009Why have we stopped co that the Regional Plan will allow reasonable mangrove removal from our harbour – what has changed? I urge you to stand up against a few vocal activists who worry about a few snails, and look after this wonderful jewel that makes the Western Bay what it is. As Nike say – just do it….

If you have a view on these or any other local government issues, I invite you to email me at andrew@vond.co.nz