9 June 2009

Submissions on Auckland Bill close on 26 June

North Shore residents have less than three weeks to make written submissions on the bill which will change Auckland’s local government landscape forever.

The Government is calling for submissions on the laws that detail the political structure of the new Auckland Council and the shape of the company which will operate Auckland’s water supply and wastewater disposal systems.

North Shore Deputy Mayor Julia Parfitt says that the council is working with community groups and other sectors to ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to make a submission. Further workshops will be announced shortly for other sectors such as the business community.

However, she says, the Government-imposed deadlines are very tight for such momentous changes.

“The Government has given our community just three weeks to make submissions and that puts immense pressure on people who are already struggling to come to grips with the implications of this headlong rush for change,” she says.

Councillor Parfitt says that there is information on the council website about how to make a submission. The Devonport Community Board and the community groups Raeburn House and North Shore Community and Social Services are running informal workshops to help groups and residents come to grips with the submission process.

Anyone interested in holding a meeting is invited to get in touch with the council’s citizen engagement advisor Pilgrim Tucker, on 09 486 8600 or pilgrim.tucker@northshorecity.govt.nz

The Government needs to put new laws in place to enable it to abolish all existing councils (including North Shore City Council) and replace them with one council which will govern the whole of Auckland from Rodney to Papakura.

The first law, which makes this massive change possible, has already gone through Parliament with no public input.

However, says Councillor Parfitt, residents are being offered a chance to have their say about some of the details of the new structure.

The Government is now calling for public submissions on the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill.

Submissions close on Friday June 26 Late submissions will not be accepted.

Councillor Parfitt says that the Government has made it clear that submissions will only be considered if they are relevant to the provisions of that particular Bill.

“Our residents have no say at all as to whether we are to be governed by an Auckland ‘Super-city.’ That has already been imposed on us whether we like it or not.”

Submissions will need to be limited to the provisions of the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill. This bill covers the following main issues:

* The proposed structure of the Auckland Council — eight members elected at large and 12 members from wards, and 20 to 30 local boards including their high level functions;

* The powers of the Local Government Commission to determine the boundaries of the wards and the local boards, as well as the boards' membership; and

* Provisions for the integration of Auckland's water infrastructure, including water supply and wastewater disposal.

The full text of the Bill is available on the North Shore City Council website www.northshorecity.govt.nz, and on the Government website www.auckland.govt.nz

Online advice about how to make a submission to a select committee is available on www.parliament.nz in both English and Te Reo.

The submissions will be considered by a Select Committee chaired by Associate Local Government Minister John Carter. People who wish to speak to the committee about their submissions will probably have the opportunity to do so. It is expected that the committee will hear submissions in Auckland through much of July, and that hearings will be held in different locations around Auckland.

After considering the written submissions and information presented to them verbally, the Select Committee members will recommend changes to the draft law. Parliament will then decide whether it accepts those changes.

People who wish to be heard by the Select Committee will need to submit a written submission before the due date of June 26, otherwise they will not have an opportunity to speak to the Select Committee.

Submissions can either be emailed to AGL@parliament.govt.nz , made online at www.parliament.nz or two copies can be posted to the address below.

FREEPOST
Clerk of the Committee
Auckland Governance Legislation Committee
Select Committee Office
Parliament Buildings
Wellington

More details on the Auckland Bill and other Auckland governance issues can be found on the North Shore City Council website www.northshorecity.govt.nz which also includes links to other useful websites.

ENDS

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