The amalgamation debate is heating up following the decision by the Local Government Commission that the Wellington councils can decide on amalgamating.

Be very afraid Tauranga residents, as it seems that we are being led down that similar road with what seems to be an orchestrated campaign, by those in favour of amalgamation, with the expected result that it's going to happen.

Tauranga ratepayers are currently funding an expensive study into amalgamation (almost makes the $31,000 spent on the failed waka venture look insignificant) and then we bring back a former CEO, of the TCC, Stephen Town to also support the proposal. This is the man who resigned from the TCC and took up a role with Transit and is now the CEO of the Auckland City Council and what else can he possibly say or contribute other than to support the status quo in Auckland as that's his employment role.

Some Auckland City ratepayers are facing rate rises of greater than 25 per cent and this is exactly what Tauranga ratepayers face as some of us remember the outcome of the enforced merger of the Mount and Tauranga in 1989.

Be very afraid or it's going to happen without our say.

M Baker, Bethlehem