Rodney to fight super city inclusion

Mayor of Rodney Penny Webster says the district will fight its inclusion in the super city, Waikato is also unhappy with boundaries

11 March 2010
The Mayor of Rodney is vowing to fight confirmation the northern boundary of Auckland's super city will include her district.

The Local Government Commission has today confirmed the boundaries of the new Auckland. Despite opposition from many locals, Rodney is in.

Mayor Penny Webster says her council is meeting this afternoon to map out its next step.

"A lot of people in Rodney feel that they haven't been listened to. I mean there's still a lot of angst that we shouldn't be part of the city."

Ms Webster says her council will consider its own plan of action as soon as this afternoon.

"We have been asked by the Northern Action Group to support a local bill putting the northern part of Rodney into Kaipara."

Ms Webster says the council is also looking at putting in a local bill itself, to keep Rodney out of Auckland.

The southern boundary of the new city will see a significant chunk of Franklin become part of the Waikato District. However, the Karioitahi Beach and Paparimu areas will stay with Auckland.

Waikato Mayor Peter Harris says when his district inherits a significant chunk of Franklin, it also inherits massive debt. He says rates could double, if Auckland does not pick up the tab.

"We have issues of roading. We have 50 percent of their roads for 25 percent of the people so there some imbalances there that we're trying to address. It's important that we win this battle."

Waikato District Council raised the issue at a select committee hearing last week. Mr Harris says while it got a fair hearing, it was obvious no one had considered anything south of the border.

Representation for the new council has also been decided. The 20 members will be elected from 13 wards, with 21 local boards sitting below the council.

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