ARC transport rates review open days continue this week

Open days for people to get involved in the Auckland Regional Council’s transport rates review are being held in Onehunga, Kelston and Pukekohe over the next week:

10am – 4pm, Saturday 15 November, Onehunga Community Centre, 83 Church St, Onehunga.

10am – 4pm, Sunday 16 November, Kelston Community Centre, cnr Awaroa & Great North Rds, Kelston.

3.30pm – 7pm, Tuesday 18 November, Town Hall Concert Chamber, Cnr Massey & Edinburgh Sts, Pukekohe.

The transport rates review involves considering the various ways that the transport portion of the ARC’s rates could be spread across the region. Some of the questions and concepts that need to be considered include:

Should public transport costs be spread regionally?

Should urban ratepayers pay more of the transport rates?

Should some property owners within urban areas be rated more than others?

Should properties be rated differently depending on how close they are to the railway line?

Should we have a business differential, and charge businesses more?

Should we charge a flat rate to every property for part of the transport rate?

“Comments and views from the wider community are an essential part of this review, and we would like as many people as possible to participate and provide feedback on how to spread transport rates across the region,” says ARC chairperson Gwen Bull.

All members of the public are invited to attend the open days, which will include information about the transport rates review, and ARC staff will be on hand to answer questions and discuss the review detail. Open days are being held throughout the region during November. Comments and feedback from the public will be collated, and provided to Councillors to help them during the decision-making process early next year.

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