Business backs unified Waikato in principle

Business backs unified Waikato in principle

Though reform of local government in the Waikato could not be put in place for the local body elections next year, it’s a very worthwhile idea in principle, says EMA Waikato chair Jack Ninnes.

“It would make a lot of sense to replicate the council framework being legislated for Auckland in the greater Waikato region,” Mr Ninnes said.

“The Waikato, South Waikato and Coromandel need one large local council to focus on our region’s big infrastructure issues, with many small, local councils to manage local amenities.

“The big infrastructure issues to be handled by the single, region-wide council would include transport, water supply and disposal, economic development, regulation and democracy, and the environment.

“To achieve the best savings over time it would also set and collect rates on behalf of all the region’s local councils.

“The smaller local councils for every town and their local rural areas would handle all the local issues.

“We’re confident a restructuring of local government in the Waikato along the same lines as for Auckland would deliver very worthwhile productivity gains for the Waikato.

“We’ll work to keep the proposal alive for the future.”

ENDS

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