The Northland Regional Council’s submission to The Whangarei District Council’s Long Term Community Plan includes these points of particular interest:
• On sewerage: “The preferred option for Okara should not proceed as it will only serve to transfer the problem of overflows, not resolve it.”
• On the Events Centre: “...encourage the WDC to establish/confirm the independent trust that will operate the Centre”
• On water: “...the programme identified reticulation leaks (by installing district water meters) and included the repair, and progressive replacement, of old structures. The funding for this work has been significantly reduced and/or deferred….”
• On stormwater: “WDC considers stormwater infiltration to be the number one problem for sewage and yet you propose to cut funding in this area…”
• In working with Maori: “That WDC clarify the terms of reference and participation and consultation arrangements for the Maori Liaison Committee.”
• On Local Government restructuring: “The Mayoral Forum is taking an active interest in regional governance issues, and various units of local government have been actively exploring options. Before a preferred solution is advocated, we need: a clear definition of the problem; robust evidence; analysis of the options; and community consultation”