Ruapehu split impossible: Kirton

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 679, 25 March 1997, Page 1

Ruapehu split impossible: Kirton

Calls for separation of the Waimarino area from the Ruapehu District made by John McCarthy on behalf of a group of Ohakune businessmen were misguided, said Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton last week. He claims the group' s criticisms include many incorrect generalisations and it was disappointing that the authors did not check their facts before "bursting into publication". "Much has been achieved already as a larger local authority," defends Mr Kirton. "We are committed to looking forward to the future, making the necessary changes to meet the challenges ahead." "There is no evidence available to suggest that

operations in the north of the district are being • subsidised by ratepayers in the south." He points out that the council's main item of expenditure, roading, is funded from separate north and south roading rates with water and sewerage schemes being funded by the communities for which they were provided. Additionally, separate rates, on a ward basis, fund the cost of community boards and new initiatives within each ward. Problem is size He backed up deputy mayor Bob Peck's assertion that the problems of the Ruapehu District stem from a large area, small population and limited rating base. Only about 64 per cent of the land area of the district is rateable, the balance being na-

tional parks, conservation areas and unoccupied Maori land. Additionally there are a number of small community water supply and sewage disposal schemes which do not enjoy any economies of scale. No cash cow "When the merger of the previous local authorities took place in 1989 it would have been hard to regard the Waimarino as a cash-cow which brought lots of resources to the merger," counters Mr Kirton. "Rather, it would be fairer to say that a number of the merging authorities brought far more problems than resources to cope with them which is a situation that the RDC has and is continuing to deal with."

He also points out that current legislation does not allow the Ruapehu District to be dismembered as any residual part would not meet the criteria for an independent local government unit. (At present the minimum population for a district must be 20,000, a figure which Ruapehu already does not meet by almost 4000 people according to the last census). "The solution to the district' s problems includes careful assessment of priorities alongside the ability of individual communities to pay for the development that they need. All areas of the district need to work together for the common good and resolve any differences as a Council among themselves," said the mayor.