Waimarino de-amalgamation call

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 7, Issue 365, 4 December 1990, Page 2

Waimarino de-amalgamation call

From page 1 ing of such a high turnout, with standing room only in the club's hall. More than 40 apologies were also heard. The steering committee put three options to the meeting: • "That we as ratepayers accept the present council policies as serving our needs, therefore eliminating the need for any further action." • "Ratepayers form an association and lobby the council for a fair policy of rating." • "Waimarino ratepayers form an association and endeavour to withdraw from the Waimarino District from the present council structure." The first option drew no response at all when

put to a vote, the second drew strong support with the third drawing the most support. tion Mr Ron Frew spoke for the "de-amalgamation" option, saying there were no advantages to the Waimarino to be had from being part of the Ruapehu District. "Given its expensive administration structure and remembering that they borrowed $500,000 this year, not for capital works but just to pay for the groceries, then a considerable increase in the general rate is inevitable," said Mr Frew. "It will be accompanied by a reduction in services and an increase in charges. "We are sure that town dwelling ratepayers will

look less kindly on the RDC this time next year than they presently might. When the inherent disadvantages of the amalgamation become obvious to a wider cross section of ratepayers, when more and more people realise that their democratic rights have been curtailed, when more and more people tire of local govemment that is remote and unresponsive as central govemment, then I think we can muster the numbers needed to put our local govemment back where it belongs - in the Waimarino." Frew said withdrawing from the RDC would not be easy considering the conservative nature of a National govemment. He called for all present to write to their local MP giving their personal view of why they would want change. Differential rating Mr Winston Oliver spoke for the option of lobbying for a change in the rating system. He said differential rating was something new to the Waimarino but is widely used throughout New Zealand, especially where there were industrial, commercial and residential zones. "Each of these areas have different needs, possibly different land values and different abilities to pay. Differential rating takes into account these differences. "Our Ruapehu District Council have completely disregarded the differences between these local areas and plan to implement one rate over the whole new district." He said the main reason for the higher rates in the Waimarino was the higher value of the land due to it being a more desirable area in which to live. "The total land value of the Ohakune is higher than Taumarunui. This means that Ohakune pays $21,000 more in general rates than Taumarunui with its much larger population." He said the poor state of the Waimarino roads has been used as a reason for higher rates but said this was not correct. "The roading programme (rates plus govemment subsidies) expressed as a percentage of rates shows approximately a 50 per cent advantage to the Taumarunui rural area. Mr Oliver said many neighbouring authorities had adopted differential rating systems. "Why should a pensioner living in Raetihi pay the same general rate as a commercial shop in Taumarunui?" "There would be no area worse off than they were before amalgamation under a differential rating system," said Bruce Berry. "All we're asking is that the council exercise fair play."

Status Quo William Wallis spoke briefly for the status quo. He said there were potential benefits from the amalgamation such as the increased size of the local authority which could bring about economies of scale. He said a ratepayers association could provide liaison between ratepayers and the councillors to ensure Waimarino people got value for money for their rates. Call for caution Concem was expressed by some present that breaking away from the Ruapehu District would be expensive and that a Waimarino authority would still be liable for the costs incurred through the Ruapehu amalgamation. Another concem was the cost of replacing plant which is to be sold by the RDC. The meeting heard that the council had decided to put on hold the plans to sell off plant that is presently surplus. Mr John Compton said there shouldn't be any concern over loss of plant if the Waimarino de-amalgamated because the new council could contract out work and eliminate the need to own much plant. A member of the public asked what was required for the Waimarino to break away from the Ruapehu District. Mayor Garrick Workman said the law at present stated that the area to break away had to have a population of at least 20,000 people, but the meeting heard that the new National gov-

emment is planning to remove that stipulation. Mayor Workman said if 10 per cent of the affected area called for a break-away a poll could be held and if more than 50 per cent of the people in the area were in favour and the Local Govemment Commission could be convinced the new area was viable, the break could then happen. He agreed it would be easy to prove the Waimarino was a viable unit in itself as the Waimarino District Council had shown it to be so. The meeting resolved to form a Waimarino Ratepayers Association, and to lobby for a return to a Waimarino based local authority. Committee members appointed were: Ron Frew (vice president), Alf Alabaster, Ben Goddard, Peter Anderson, John McArthy (president), Winston Oliver, William Wallis, John Compton and Brian Eades. John Martin was appointed as auditor. "Our first task is to look at a differential rating system, at least until the law changes, then take the appropriate action, if necessary, to break away from the Ruapehu District," said Winston Oliver. Ex -Waimarino councillor Dave Griffiths congratulated the Steering Committee on their efforts. He added that Taumarunui was also not keen on the present system saying it was an "unwilling marriage of two unwilling partners". He said the amalgamation was socially and geographically doomed.