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29 May 2006

MAYOR'S E-COLUMN

WANGANUI: WE ARE THE BEST!

It has now been eighteen months since Wanganui’s democratic revolution. A new mayor, eight new councillors and four new rural community board members were elected in the biggest civic shake-up in our district’s history.

Since 2004, there have been two further by-elections and both confirmed the desire of Wanganui people for dynamic change. And change there has certainly been.

In fact, it is remarkable exactly what this new council has achieved these past months. A nil rates increase, an internal restructuring of council’s senior management, a focus upon events that promote Wanganui nationally, the introduction of people-empowering referenda, the establishment of youth and heritage committees, decisions to advance both the Splash Centre extension and the riverfront development, an emphasis upon improving council service and efficiency, the encouragement of Ucol to aggregate in the Old Town quarter, the hosting of an international film premiere, the creation of Wanganui Inc … the list seems endless.

If I had to select one change that has overshadowed all others then it would be the use of referenda. They give ordinary Wanganui ratepayers and residents a direct say in council’s decisions. They remove the power of selfish lobby groups and/or individuals and instead empower the previously silent majority.

Little wonder that all these changes have seen Wanganui singled out by the prestigious ‘National Business Review’ as the future of local government in this country.

And your vote has directly influenced the decisions that council has made. They are the reason we reprioritised the Sarjeant Art Gallery extension in favour of the Splash Centre and the riverfront development. The reason we spend an additional $100,000 on improving city footpaths. The reason why we are seeking to reduce councilor numbers and keep Wanganui’s name without the ‘h’. The reasons why we are working up soft water options for all of Wanganui.

In short, they are about giving the people who pay the rates, the real say in how our city and district progresses. It is participatory democracy at its finest.

Soon, I anticipate that you will have another opportunity to shape Wanganui’s future. We will be offering three or four fully costed soft water options for you to choose from. They have the potential to save every Wanganui home and business real money.

Similarly we will be publishing options for the ‘Heart of Wanganui’ project. That project aims at revitalizing and expanding our library, Museum, art gallery and War Memorial Hall. The final choices, on each of the above issues, will be yours.

And that’s the way it should be. It is your money that council is spending. Not it’s own, but yours.

Clearly Wanganui people have enjoyed this unique opportunity. In each of the yearly referenda, the voter turn-out was around 55% - a much higher proportion than local body elections throughout New Zealand.

As we promised in 2004, Wanganui is leading the country. And you are a big part as to the reason why. Congratulations, Wanganui.

QUESTION:

Alan Taylor, Westmere asks – “When exactly did council know that their anticipated forestry investments – planned to reduce the wastewater debt – would not be available as a result of the forestry downturn? And when did you, as mayor, find out?”

The Mayor replies - The last council was aware that their forestry investments had collapsed as early as March 2004, that their financial projections of the 2003 LTCCP were worthless, and that there would be no dividends for at least the next three years. They had information that a projected $18.4 million of returns over the next decade had shrunk to less than $4 million. There was no public acknowledgement of this information. I only became aware of this information in November 2004 after personally investigating – a month after my election. It was in none of my briefing papers. I immediately informed the new council and made the revised figures public.