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April 11, 2017 April 2017 No Comments

Draft Proposal for Wairarapa District Council
On Tuesday 14 March all Wairarapa Councils met with the Local Government Commission (the Commission) to discuss their draft proposal for a Wairarapa District Council.
The long procces began in May and June 2013 when the Local Government Commission received two applications for changes to the structure of Wellington local authorities. Applications from South Wairarapa, Carterton and Masterton District Councils for a single unitary council for the whole of the Wairarapa, one from Greater Wellington Regional Council for a unitary council for the whole of the Wellington region, including the Wairarapa.

In December 2014, after investigations and public consultation the Commission notified a draft proposal for a single region-wide unitary council and invited public submissions. A total of 9142 submissions were received a large majority opposed the draft proposal, while more than 40% of submitters proposed combinations of merging councils and more sharing of services among councils.

In June 2015, the Commission considered the clear opposition decided to withdraw the proposal for a single region-wide unitary council. However in light of the number of submissions in favour of some change, the Commission decided to see if there was a new preferred option that would have widespread community support.
The Local Government Commission has now presented a draft proposal for a Wairarapa District Council. This would replace the existing Masterton District Council, the Carterton District Council, and the South Wairarapa District Council. Summary of key features of the draft proposal are:
• The Wairarapa District Council would be a territorial authority. The wards will be Featherston, Martinborough, Greytown, Maungaraki, Carterton, Masterton and Te Kauru.
• The Wairarapa would remain part of the Wellington region. Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) would continue to be the regional council for the Wairarapa. GWRC would continue to carry out its current roles and responsibilities.
• There would be a new Wairarapa Committee to strengthen Wairarapa input into regional council issues affecting the district.
• The Wairarapa District Council would have a mayor and 12 councillors. The mayor would be elected by voters from across the combined district. The councillors would be elected by voters of each of seven wards.
• There would be five community boards centred on each Wairarapa town. There would be a total of 21 elected community board members.
• There would also be a Māori Standing Committee and a Rural Standing Committee.
• The first District Council elections could be held in October 2018 at the earliest. The new council could come into existence on 1 November 2018 at the earliest.
• The Wairarapa District Council would retain area offices in Masterton, Carterton and Martinborough for at least five years.
• It is proposed that the principal public office (the address for service) would be in Masterton. The principal public office can be changed in the future by the new council.
• The Commission proposes that the current rating arrangements remain in place until 30 June 2024.
• Any rates changes due to the proposed amalgamation would be capped at five per cent up or down per year. (This cap would not apply to rates changes as a result of normal council activities, such as changes to services or revised rating valuations.)
• Wastewater rates would be ring-fenced so people only pay for the wastewater scheme they are currently part of.

If the draft proposal is agreed upon, it is highly likely that a poll will take place to vote on this. This is your chance to vote for or against the proposal. I strongly urge you all to voice your opinion on the Commission’s draft proposal for a Wairarapa District Council or if you do not want this proposal, to ask for the status quo to remain in place. Now is the time for you to have your say. Submission forms will be at all Council offices and in all Wairarapa libraries. You can also download the form from the Commission’s website (lgc.govt.nz) then post or email it to the Commission or fill in the online form from their website.
Mayor Viv Napier

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