Tauranga City Council is set to spend $143,486 in an attempt to fend off future amalgamation ventures.
In the wake of developer Paul Adams' proposed merger of Tauranga City and the Western Bay of Plenty, the council is investing the six-figure sum in the Local Government Futures project.
Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby (left) and developer Paul Adams, who wants to amalgamate the city and district councils.
In what was the council's first electronic vote, Catherine Stewart was the only councillor to oppose paying Tauranga's share of a half-million dollar evidence gathering exercise to be conducted jointly by Bay of Plenty territorial authorities.
Councillor John Robson expressed concern that the $500,000 study does not go far enough, saying the total being invested is inadequate compared with the region's combined ratepayer asset base of $5-6 billion.
He compared the project with weaknesses in the SmartGrowth partnership that he says are the result of SmartGrowth being inadequately funded by its members, which includes Tauranga City Council.
He is also concerned at the impact the additional workload will have on council staff.
Mayor Stuart Crosby agreed with him but added the costs are deliberately being kept low to keep all the region's authorities involved.
'The other thing is this research should be done anyway. We have obligations under the Local Government Act,” says Stuart.
John's question to CEO Garry Poole about what had to be left out to reduce the project's initial expected cost from $650,000 to $700,000 went unanswered.
Six months ago Paul Adams stated he would be making an application to amalgamate the city and the western bay of plenty district ‘in a couple of months'.
The Local Government Commission has not yet received it, but the announcement is one of the points pushing the council to act.
Once such an application is received the affected Councils will have 20 working day to respond, giving them no time to research a response.
Councillor Steve Morris says the council is under threat of an application seeking the amalgamation of Tauranga City and the Western Bay of Plenty District Councils based on the evidence quoted in media 'that it feels right” and 'it makes sense”.
If the application goes forward, Steve says it could have a huge impact, with Tauranga ratepayers facing paying additional costs to the tune of tens of millions and Tauranga City Council needs to spend the money and to do it right.
The Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Whakatane District Councils have already voted to support the project says CEO Garry Poole. The results from the other councils are expected to be known this Friday.
23 comments
Please excuse me!!!!
Posted on 10-11-2014 15:30 | By Jimmy Ehu
but what has a developer got to do with Council setting policy??, way to many worms in this apple!!!!, Council are elected by ratepayers, not a developer seeking concessions, be it Paul Adams or Bob Clarkson.
Totally Agree
Posted on 10-11-2014 16:19 | By Taffy
with Jimmy Ehu Paul Adams is pushing his own barrow with one thing in mind -Feather his own nest never mind the rate payers.
When will they ever learn?
Posted on 10-11-2014 16:19 | By Mary Faith
Just look at the shambles Auckland is in since it amalgamated its councils. Rates so high now that people are being forced out of the city! I agree with Jimmy Ehu - Mr Adams is another 'trougher' and it is a conflict of interest if he has anything to do with council decisions!
It
Posted on 10-11-2014 17:03 | By Capt_Kaveman
does not make sense and no to amalgamation just look at what happened to THE MT
Feels good
Posted on 10-11-2014 18:20 | By YOGI BEAR
That's a good start isn't, a typical quality basis to get it all done. what else could you expect? Well no money spent for such a simplistic view and opinion that decides all.
Kavemun
Posted on 10-11-2014 18:22 | By YOGI BEAR
Of recent times is the mess in Auckland, not looking good at all in fact looks to be about as bad as it an get there and they want to do the same here? You gotta wonder?
Wisechief
Posted on 10-11-2014 20:23 | By Wise Chief
We saw what happened when Warren Cooper merged Tauranga & Mount whereupon massive chunks of the Mounts accumulated rates money literally disappeared down a deep hole never to be accounted for. This arrogant Adams guys is in it for his own personal enrichment and needs to be dropped over the edge of the local continental shelf never to be heard of again. He a destroyer of communities for cash. Also has anyone bothered to ask the local Maoris who have lived here generation after generation and who have had to consistently pay rates over that time unlike most Pakeha land owners who do it for one or two generations then sell out and leave while we remain constant ratepayers regardless of ever increasing rate each year. Pretty unfair situation if you ask me? This just another graphic example of institutionalised Apartheid here.
Cobblers and spin ...
Posted on 10-11-2014 21:10 | By Murray.Guy
Tauranga City Council is set to spend $143,486 in an attempt to fend off future amalgamation ventures, says the report. What a load of cobblers. These Councillors can't see a 'set up' There is NO WAY this 'joint initiative' is about fending off any amalgamation plan of Paul Adams. This is the choreographed Crosby / Adams Show, using ratepayers funds to finance their campaign. Surely any meaningful consultation, analysis, would be initiated by Tauranga City Council with it's own residents first off. This is just one more 'stacked deck'. By the way, I missed the expenditure in the annual plan process, where's it coming from this $150,000 out of the blue? Mayor Crosby's assertions that this $500,000 research has to be done in response to LGA obligations is a falsehood.
Learn from Auckland's Debacle!
Posted on 11-11-2014 07:59 | By Mackka
Just look at the mess Auckland is in and learn from their mistakes! This is a big NO! As for Paul Adams - this is a conflict of interest and he should have NOTHING to do with the matter! Our Mayor should know this! Paul Adams is only looking after Paul Adams and the opportunity to increase his already huge empire in this area. I agree with Jimmy Ehu.
NO BRAINER
Posted on 11-11-2014 08:26 | By tabatha
When are some of are so called leaders going to listen to the every day people instead of those who develop. When developers get involved to me it is obvious they are looking after their interests. When ratepayers get involved they are also looking after their interests but for a different reason. Ratepayers want to save money not spend extra, as in the case in NZ's first super city. Some will say learn from them. Yes learn from them by saying NO.
who benefits?
Posted on 11-11-2014 08:48 | By gincat
Just survey Auckland ratepayers to see if amalgamation to a super city has brought benefits, such as savings, efficiencies etc
More grandstanding
Posted on 11-11-2014 09:24 | By Draginz
Tauranga's Mayor's statement about 'obligations under the Local Government Act' can be interpreted any way he likes to suit whatever situation he wants to adapt to suit himself. He is a self serving individual who (like Len Brown in AK) just wants to push his own barrow to a position that most ratepayers in this region don't want. Their so called study will be baised to the outcome that it's initiators desire - not what is best for the Bay of Plenty! Stand up people, don't let them start on this foolish path.
Unbelieable
Posted on 11-11-2014 09:33 | By DAD
I cant believe that a developer has any say in what the councils might decide. I believe he has something to do with smart-growth as well. It would seem he is dictating for his own benefit, another Kim Dot.com thinks he can buy whatever he wants!
What do they have in common ..
Posted on 11-11-2014 10:03 | By Murray.Guy
What do they have in common .. A developer, a lawyer, an accountant and a Mayor that aspires to be a 'super city Mayor? The ability to secure $500,000.00 of ratepayer funds to further their amalgamation aspirations.
Look at Auckland
Posted on 11-11-2014 10:56 | By YOGI BEAR
They are facing all kinds of expensive issues as a result of amalgamation, all the spin-doctoring has fallen on its face already there and the result will be no different here.
Super city
Posted on 11-11-2014 11:13 | By maccachic
Just look at the spiralling costs of the Super City Amalgamation
I love developers....
Posted on 11-11-2014 13:14 | By Paul Melhuish
....when they keep clear of issues that they know they should stay out of. This is one of them and it is of real concern.
Murray Guy, what do you have in common?
Posted on 11-11-2014 16:06 | By Councillorwatch
If it's good enough for you to ask the mayor etc, then could I also ask a question of you? What do you have in common with Baypark and Speedway? I ask because when you were a councillor, council somehow managed to find a never revealed amount of money to buy a speedway business, plus a cash injection of $5 million to Baypark. What did the Speedway business cost? I don't support amalgamation but I don't support that either. Of course council bought Baypark off Bob Clarkson, didn't they? Is Bob Clarkson a developer you would support over the large Tauriko development? Just askin'?
Mayor Crosby
Posted on 11-11-2014 22:24 | By YOGI BEAR
Looks like he got his executive officer through the back door to do the "research" he wanted all at Council cost. Sadly, this isn't the last of it as many a 'creative' job is created in the name of self importance and everyone else's expense.
Bureaucratic expansion
Posted on 14-11-2014 07:03 | By YOGI BEAR
Is the aim here, more officials wandering around means more votes next election, simple really.
Council Mergers
Posted on 21-11-2014 11:02 | By waihibeach
With Tauranga CC being the 48th most indebted Council in NZ, I can understand why it would want to take over WBOPDC. WBOPDC has a quarter of the population of Tauranga so effectively would have no influence in any decision to spread its debt over a wider community. A little homework and they would see that WBOPDC is the 58th most indebted Council in NZ. I guess they could become No 1 at something?
Waihi Beach
Posted on 24-11-2014 17:17 | By YOGI BEAR
Yes strange isn't it, I think the pot of gold is for a number of things: bigger salaries for all the official muppets around the place, more staff meaning more salaries, a little pot of gold resides at RBOP, the POT shares that would be viewed as beingn there to fund the continuous spending at TCC and the best for last is the then newly created position of the Mayor, more, bigger and more distant than now.
cynical land grab
Posted on 09-12-2014 05:30 | By marshamaxw
This is a cynical land grab by property developers. TCC needs to stop expensive projects and just set rates to pay services. For the last thirty years local government has been extending it's role into things it didn't do before, sucking up more and more money from the economy. Their role should just be limited to giving services.
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