Brian Anderson The Western Front www.sunlive.co.nz

Democracy did not stand much of a chance this year during the Western Bay of Plenty Annual Plan hearings.

The generalised pamphlet with rate information came out well before the final plan and submission form. Everyone had already moaned, the topic was forgotten and the chance to air their replies was lost. A restriction on dog owners captured the public's attention and a request for support for a Home of Cycling in Hamilton ensured that only 110 of the 345 submitters were interested in the Annual Plan and the council.

Rate increases?

Only three or four submitters mentioned rates. Omokoroa and Waihi Beach Community Boards expressed dismay at their sewerage debts mounting. They are paying their share, but the council is not – and the actual debts for both wards were rising astronomically. Omokoroa's suggestion that the whole district should share the cost of their system has been taken up by council, with the suggestion that all sewerage and water rates be combined.

Our representatives cared?

One ratepayer association's only worry was an uncompleted drain and another promoted a walkway in the Kaimais. Maketu Community Board did offer an impressive list of outstanding infrastructure maintenance issues in their ward. While the Annual Plan was not quite the place for such a list, it did highlight a major problem of poor maintenance throughout the district. Another submitter's analysis indicated that 60 per cent of council revised spending was still on their new projects when, in these times, maintenance of existing infrastructure should be given the highest priority.

Have they listened?

The request for the council to honour its commitment to the Tauranga Harbour Recreation Strategy and share with the work currently being done by the regional council and Recreation Forums, was the same request by 32 submitters at the last Annual Plan. Their request for the council to stop the extremely unpopular $4.7m Kauri Point Boat Ramp and Marina and meet their responsibility to the whole of the harbour appears to still be falling on deaf ears. The council will not answer questions on the topic and after ten years of argument, probably still believe that Bowentown is trying to take over its all tide boat ramp.

Do they want to listen?

George and I were restricted to ten minutes for our four submissions. A former councillor, whose analysis in 2009 forecast the council's current dire financial position, is very supportive of our work. He and others like him didn't bother submitting this year. His advice to me was to go fishing. Whether he is right or not, if a new council is elected in 2013 it is going to receive one of the biggest hospital passes of the century. It is now most important that we start monitoring the council and insisting on what the local government New Zealand is also demanding – that council decisions be clear, transparent and accountable. More than 55 per cent of our submissions to council were on dogs, but we can't let the district go to the dogs – even if they are barking.