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Labour offers way forward for recovery |
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Lianne Dalziel
Earthquake Recovery Spokesperson
2 February 2012
Labour offers way forward for recovery
Labour’s Earthquake Recovery Spokesperson Lianne Dalziel says there are a number of solutions to the stand-off between Christchurch City Council, central government and residents who staged a grassroots protest yesterday.
“The first is the adoption of Cr Yani Johanson’s 10-point plan, which was tabled at Monday’s Council meeting. This will go a long way to improving council processes and ensure that all councillors are fully engaged in the governance of the city.
“The second is the appointment of a separate Recovery Manager who would have overarching responsibility for the city’s recovery.
“There is a need for inspirational leadership for the operational arm of the council’s role in recovery and creating a separate role is a potential circuit-breaker. Such a role would leave the current Chief Executive free to concentrate on ‘business-as-usual’,” Lianne Dalziel said.
“Finally the government needs to clarify the roles of both CERA and the council. There are ambiguities, blurred boundaries and an inappropriate separation of the central city from the rest of the city.
“The government has been making land decisions without the engagement of the council, and yet the council will be charged with dealing with consents during the rebuild process.
“A public backlash against bureaucracy is a common feature in post-disaster situations,” Lianne Dalziel said.
“The causes of the backlash are almost always the same: Lack of meaningful community engagement; decisions being made behind closed doors; poor communication; divided accountabilities; poor governance arrangements, and lack of leadership.
“The National Government needs to take responsibility for much of this as well. The CERA model hasn’t provided the city with the leadership it requires.
“It was supposed to be a small agency supporting the co-ordination of the recovery effort. It has grown into a large government department that continues to fail to communicate with affected residents.
“What we need is for central government, local government, the community and the developers to be fully engaged in goal setting and integrated strategic planning. It is not just the council that needs to step up to the plate now,” Lianne Dalziel said.
ENDS


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