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

We only get one month and we are already half way through our chance to explore council thinking, perhaps enjoy the sights and gain our own stories of our trip through the Long Term Plan.

Unfortunately like all quick tourist trips you are never sure what is real and what has been contrived for the tourist. One councillor, commenting on the financials of the Long Term Plan explained that it was all smoke and mirrors. The main worry of any holiday is always the question of the final cost. We think we know when we start but the bills afterwards are the true cost of our great democratic adventure. There is no doubt money will have to be the biggie at the top of our submission list.

John Key says that the main income for a Council is rates but, let's face it, when rates are up to 6% more than the CPI you know that your rates are not financing current operations you are financing some very bad management decisions. Calling them infrastructure investment debt is just a different currency which and doesn't make it is a sound purchase in our money. Fincos, or financial contributions, are the other major income and are derived from new properties coming on line to meet growth in population. Check the first page in the finance chapter. The one line finco forecast is crazy with an 80% increase in this income next year and two more visits from Santa Claus in the next ten years. Who am I to know where these miracles come from? I have had answers from some councillors from readers who have asked the same question, but the answers have all been different and the most believable of these is unbelievable. I can't say I have the correct answer yet because some councillors have offered to ask questions for me.

The other part of the holiday equation is the spending. The LTP, and particularly this one, is the time where we are asked to tell council what we want to cut back to keep our rate bill down. I have been to a number of meetings this month where groups are getting together for submissions. The Mayor has asked for us to do this in the plan. In Katikati we are worried about specifics like the mystery of the new library which apparently is needed because other centres have slightly bigger libraries. I spent the weekend helping my father-in-law get started with ebooks. Online libraries are up and running in Auckland and Tauranga. Western Bay residents should realize that we are entitled to a Tauranga Library card and we are entitled to use the online library service. The council claims that a new three storey library is needed. The idea that we should start paying a targeted rate of $60 for ten years for it and the purpose designed Town Centre before it is built in 2021 is absolutely crazy. The Katikati roading plan project turns out to be a sticking plaster patch up of roads for access to and around the supermarket that was put in the wrong place. A roading plan? Work is already underway and feedback from the residents is one of real awe and wonder. A nice place to visit but you would never want to go again. The Kauri Point boat ramp is still on the books but we have been told that it is not really for that purpose. How many more misdirections are in this plan? There is certainly mystery and wonder in the 451 pages and the mail out reads more as a justification sales brochure than an itinerary.

Perhaps the most worrying part of the plan is the statement that a review of representation is dismissed as a project for later. It should have started 18 months ago. In its crudest form, the review means that we can throw out the whole council with its systems but only of course if we have something better to replace it. We are lucky. Some other councils are through the exercise already and are proud of their new reorganisation. The critical time for this opportunity is 2013 but we are already late and we need time to get together and plan. As on any holiday trip, if we ‘leave it to later' means that it will never happen. Groups discussing submissions and our new council have to start now. Perhaps we need someone with an umbrella.