3 November 2009

Media release: ATA makes a positive step for Auckland

The Auckland Transition Authority released its draft organisational structure for the new Auckland Council yesterday.

This is a positive step towards Auckland’s transition into a single council in 2010. The proposed structure provides assurance that key council service is retained, a greater emphasis on future planning, and financial control.

The ATA’s decision to establish a temporary director to assist with the transition is a prudent approach. With 6,000 employees, $2.3 billion in revenue, $28 billion in assets and 1.35 million customers there will need to be assistance during transition.

The roll of the new mayor will require future thinking and a much wider ability to engage with all Aucklanders. The proposed strategy and communications rolls in the Mayors Office will go some way to encourage this approach.

The obvious short coming, is putting the chicken before the egg, developing a structure before a strategy is in place. However it’s a good start, one that the new council can build from.

The election, in less than a year, will be more important than ever before. The first council elect will still have a green field to develop the region. We need assurance from our community leaders that customer service will be up and running on day one, and Aucklanders are successfully engaged with the new council.

We now need the vision and leadership to make Auckland a more prosperous, healthy and sustainable city.

ENDS

© Scoop Media