Without wishing to sound like a stuck record, it is appropriate to once again talk about local government reorganisation. This topic is still very much on the boil and I’m continually being asked where we are up to?
In an unprecedented move, the three Wairarapa Councils have worked closely together over the last 18 months to identify the best option, which they consider is a unitary authority for Wairarapa.
A unitary authority is a council that delivers both territorial and regional services. Feedback has been sought from the public who overwhelmingly supported Wairarapa remaining a standalone authority rather than joining a Wellington super city.
There have been criticisms nevertheless; the most important being around affordability and viability of a standalone council. Further work was therefore commissioned in this area.This report is expected by Easter and then will be able to decide whether or not to lodge an application for reorganisation to the Local Government Commission.
If an application is lodged and meets the required thresh holds for acceptance, the process from there is not fast. It involves a great deal of research and consultation after which the LGC may come up with a very different proposal to what we started with. Then there is the opportunity for that proposal to go to a poll.
In a nutshell it means we are at least 1 year to 18 months away from a decision so this year’s election will be contested on the status quo.
