Auckland's new Super CitySipping on my morning coffee today, I came across this interesting article in the NZ Herald about the costs of setting up the new Auckland Council coming to over $200 million.
Local Government Minister Rodney Hyde justifies this soaring cost at the reason that "The new Auckland Council will be able to provide integrated planning and improved service delivery at a reduced cost" (NZ Herald 2010).
When I saw this figure, my initial thought was "WHOA!" because I never thought that it would cost this muchsetting up a unitary Council for the Auckland region.
But what sits in my mind now is a very relevant point raised in the article about us ratepayers having to front a portion of the costs for the new Super City.
Although Auckland could benefit from a unitary Local Authority for the entire region, I personally think that the Auckland region itself has too many diverse characteristics that cannot simply be governed effectively by the one Auckland Council for integrated Planning down to the local level.
Maybe I'm just biased about the new Auckland Council dwindling some of my career prospects when I graduate, but I personally think the four major Councils in Auckland is simply too diverse to be effectively incorporated together into one on the new Auckland Council.
Personally, I'm rather looking forward to the Spatial Plan coming out later this year. It should be interesting to see whats in it and I'm sure it will form an interesting part of my Planning studies next year.
Oh and of course, we'll get to see how this $200 million set-up costs pan out.
To read the full article and see the new Auckland Council's spendings for the $200 million, follow the link below.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10648531
Local Government Minister Rodney Hyde justifies this soaring cost at the reason that "The new Auckland Council will be able to provide integrated planning and improved service delivery at a reduced cost" (NZ Herald 2010).
When I saw this figure, my initial thought was "WHOA!" because I never thought that it would cost this muchsetting up a unitary Council for the Auckland region.
But what sits in my mind now is a very relevant point raised in the article about us ratepayers having to front a portion of the costs for the new Super City.
Although Auckland could benefit from a unitary Local Authority for the entire region, I personally think that the Auckland region itself has too many diverse characteristics that cannot simply be governed effectively by the one Auckland Council for integrated Planning down to the local level.
Maybe I'm just biased about the new Auckland Council dwindling some of my career prospects when I graduate, but I personally think the four major Councils in Auckland is simply too diverse to be effectively incorporated together into one on the new Auckland Council.
Personally, I'm rather looking forward to the Spatial Plan coming out later this year. It should be interesting to see whats in it and I'm sure it will form an interesting part of my Planning studies next year.
Oh and of course, we'll get to see how this $200 million set-up costs pan out.
To read the full article and see the new Auckland Council's spendings for the $200 million, follow the link below.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10648531
