Ruapehu district best option 1 for Waimarino

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 259, 18 October 1988, Page 1

Ruapehu district best option 1 for Waimarino

Waimarino District Councillors have accepted the Local Government Commissions Manawatu-Wanganui region proposal as the best they could have hoped for.

The document was released last week and proposes a region made up of six district councils and one city council (Palmerston North, to be the regional administration centre). Waimarino District Council discussed the proposal at a meeting last Wednesday. The Waimarino would be included in a Ruapehu District which would have Taumarunui as its administration centre.

Waiouru, including part of the existing Rangitikei County (generally, the Waiouru area) will be included as will the Taumarunui Borough and County (excluding the area of the western shore of lake Taupo). Service centres would be established and maintained in Raetihi and Ohakune. The proposal suggests the Ruapehu District be divided into wards based on population and "such

other factors as the Commission considers appropriate". One mayor and 14 members would be elected to the Ruapehu District Council. At least two members will represent each ward.

Yet to be determined is the basis on which ward committees are to be established. Earlier options The Waimarino District Council earlier opted to be included in

a Rangitikei District or failing that, a Wanganui District taking in Taumarunui. These options took into account that Taumarunui wished to be included in a Waikato region (first option) but Turn page 2

Ruapehu option best for Waimarino

From page 1 that they were likely to be forced to stay in the Wanganui -Manawatu region (second option). Cr Harding said he got the impression Taumarunui had been given the administration centre because they had not been allowed to join the Waikato Region. Cr Gould pointed out that all the district administration centres are at the biggest population bases. He said it was disappointing that Waiouru wouldn't have a service centre. Cr Bennett said the Commission proposed that existing administration centres be retained and if m o r e service centres are needed then they could be established. Waiouru people are less likely to need access to district administration. Cr Bennett said Rangitikei are certain to make submissions to keep Waiouru. Cr Summerhays said if Rangitikei were successful in keeping Waiouru it could make Ruapehu unviable as a district council. Proposal w e I - comed Cr Bennett said the Commission has said it would take very strong submissions to change the indicative proposal. "I welcome it Your Worship, I think we come out of it really well. We've got a good and I consider a viable administrative structure," said Cr Bennett. "The community of interest is still going to be north to Taumarunui but that's no reason why we can't have a very strong administrative structure to look after the local government services for this whole area." "I think what is very important about (the proposed Ruapehu Region) is that we go in as an integral partner, particularly with the inclusion of Waiouru" said Mayor Workman. "We're no longer being threatened with being a tail-end-Charlie, even in the regional situation."

He said the Ruapehu District would have the largest area of any in the region. "We come out of it very well I feel," he said. Waiouru's inclusion Councillors discussed how the Waimarino District Council should be communicating with the Waiouru people over the proposal. Mayor Workman suggested going to a Waiouru Community Advisory Committee meeting or, failing that, inviting the committee to the next full council meeting. Cr Harding suggested writing to the Ministry of Defence as well as the Army expressing the council's support of the plan's inclusion of Waiouru. "We feel Waiouru is definitely part of the new Ruapehu Region," said Mayor Workman. "It is essential that it is part of it," said Cr Punch.

The commission proposes that a transition committee be set up to oversee the amalgamation of the three authorities. Each of the three authorities, Taumarunui County, Taumarunui Borough and Waimarino District would be represented by two members. One officer from each authority would be included as ex-officio members, without voting rights. There was a consensus among councillors that they should let Taumarunui, Waiouru and the Commission know that the Waimarino District Council were happy with the proposal. Taumarunui Mayor Terry Podmore said last week that his council was extremely disappointed with the decision. He said the town's existing community of interest lay with Waikato. Submissions on the proposal close on November 10, 1988.