Banks Peninsula stays as separate ward in response to public submissions

Banks Peninsula will stay as a separate ward under the Council's final proposal for its 2016 electoral arrangements.

In response to submissions that were overwhelmingly in favour of keeping Banks Peninsula distinct from urban wards, the Council today agreed to retain Banks Peninsula ward as it is now, rather than merging it with some urban areas as had been initially proposed.

Mayor Lianne Dalziel says, "The representation review process has highlighted the real challenge for a merger between a large urban and a small district council. The overwhelming weight of submissions was to retain separate representation for Banks Peninsula. The Council has supported this in the final proposal, which we will refer to the Local Government Commission, and it's important that people who support the changes make submissions as well."

In response to public comment, the Council also agreed to retain the same number of urban community boards that it has at present. The initial proposal was for five urban community boards and two Banks Peninsula boards. In today's decision, the Council has agreed to six urban community boards and one Banks Peninsula board.

The final proposal will result in 54 elected members, exactly the same number as now. They will comprise 16 councillors from 16 wards and 37 community board members plus the Mayor, who will be elected by the whole city.

The Council will publicly notify the Final Proposal on Friday 20 November, and it will be open for appeals and objections for a month. The final proposal will then be referred with all appeals and objections to the Local Government Commission, which will hold hearings in Christchurch early next year. It will make it's final determination by 10 April 2016.

Read the full details of the initial proposal and the submission booklet online..

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