Concern at the possibility of government carrying out a 'super council” type restructuring of local government in the Bay of Plenty was behind businessman Doug Owens' successful bid for a seat on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
Doug Owens is one of the two new councillors elected to represent the Tauranga constituency on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
He has monitored the formation of a single council in Auckland and says Local Government Minister Rodney Hide's involvement gives him a ‘bad vibe' about the possible fate of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's holdings in the airport and the Port of Tauranga.
These, he says, could too easily fall victim to asset-grabbing by central government.
'The centralisation of power and authority makes me very suspicious.
'I don't think the Auckland model is right for us – or for Auckland.”
Doug says he will also focus on balancing the region's environmental and community interests and has a special interest in water control.
The son of business magnate the late Sir Bob Owens, who in the 1970s was mayor of both Tauranga and the Mount, he has no plans to take his political ambitions to national level.
'At the age of 56 I think I'm a bit too old for that.
'Unless someone offered me the top job, I wouldn't be interested.”
He is one of nine candidates who contested four vacancies in the Tauranga constituency and with special votes yet to be counted, is placed third among the successful candidates with 12,438 votes.
Read the full Bay of Plenty Regional Council election preliminary results here.
6 comments
Be vigilant Doug
Posted on 11-10-2010 17:32 | By Murray.Guy
Be vigilant Doug. There is a very clear agenda on the part of team TCC / WBOP / EBOP to further wrestle control from our regions residents. The everincreasing use of combined enities with minimal representation is the chosen pathway - Smartgrowth, BOPLASS, etc. Big egos demanding bigger salaries for larger responsibilities with no measurable consumer benefits.
Murray Guy's advice
Posted on 12-10-2010 08:48 | By firstperson
Are you on the same planet Murray? BOPLASS is managed by staff and doing a good job to save costs. No political salaries there. Neither are there any at Smartgrowth. If there is "a very clear agenda", how come the rest of us can't see it?
TO SEE OR NOT TO SEE
Posted on 14-10-2010 19:24 | By The Master
Raewyn B, The ability to see is a case of willingness to not just look but to 'see”, there is a difference. Many things are portrayed and painted in such a way that everything looks wonderful and sadly that to a large degree has worked as shown very clearly in the last election result. Evidence is there if you know where to look. Murray is right the planning is well under way already, just look, the Regional Council has changed its name form EBOP, and purchased its new HQ in Tauranga. Wake up my dear the game is already underway.
NO REPLY AT ALL
Posted on 21-10-2010 10:12 | By The Master
RAEWYN B, No reply in a week ? has the truth been stated and there is no getting past that ?
BOPLASS
Posted on 21-10-2010 13:25 | By The Master
Yet another TCC setup and disaster, it looses money, it has always lost money, so what ever savings you think that exist, dont forget to add the loss + admin time + audit fees + debt + interest on the debt, did I forget anything ?
Wakey Wakey Dozy
Posted on 23-10-2010 08:08 | By Ratcatcher
Doug Owens stance on Super cities and amalgamations is spot on.CR. Guys timely warning is correct.Raewyn B you are living in Willie Wonker land. BOPLASS the multi Council fibre optics dream loses money, SMARTGROWTH the very illinformed 'cystal ball gazing' outfit wastes money and a 3 Council Amalgamation will cost everyone money and a further loss of democracy to boot.
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