Residents Have Say On Future Council Direction

More than half of those who returned the Thames Coromandel survey on local government reform have indicated support for an Eastern Waikato merger option.

Some 1300 residents, visitors and ratepayers responded to the survey, 54 percent have indicated support for the neighbouring option.

In a media release from the district council, it was stated that in addition to the survey, over 280 people attended Community Board meetings to have their say while many more sent in responses via emails.

Thames-Coromandel district councillors had previously agreed to three options which also included a North Bay of Plenty option and a Greater Waikato option.

The North Bay of Plenty option which involves Thames-Coromandel joining with the Tauranga and Western Bay councils, received 34 percent support.  The single Greater Waikato option attracted 12 percent support.

The East Waikato option includes the Hauraki, Matamata-Piako and South Waikato districts.

Under its Simplifying Local Government work programme Thames-Coromandel District Council initially considered nine potential options – shortlisted to three for engagement with the community.

Acting Mayor John Grant acknowledged that more than 1600 people had taken the opportunity to have input in what represents the potential biggest change in local government for nearly 40 years and noted that feedback was still coming in.

“Council is very pleased with the numbers to date and will happily continue to listen to all views that are shared during the next few weeks.

“The proposed changes to local government continue to generate a significant amount of interest and conversations in our communities and we are thrilled so many people are ensuring they have their say,” he said.

The major themes to emerge have been protection of local voice, financial considerations and questions around aligning the variable communities of interest.   Also noted is the importance of catchment and watershed management.

Concerns included how to overcome the rural versus urban divide, the potential metropolitan dominance over smaller regions, management of respective debt positions and a perception of the process being rushed.

“In terms of the process from this point, we will continue to meet with other councils and stakeholders as we formulate a final recommendation for Thames-Coromandel,” said Acting Mayor Grant.

Thames-Coromandel District Councillors will next consider reform at their meeting on July 28, with a final decision on “Which way to go?” happening at the August 6 meeting.

Local government proposals for Head Start must be made to Government by August 9.