Viewpoint – Sold a pup

It has been six years and 10 months since Rodney Hide visited Wellsford and informed us all we were going to be dragged into the Auckland Supercity, whether we liked it or not.

Nobody has seen Hide nor hair of him since. We were told that we would have: better governance, better service and better value for the rates we paid.

Rodney Councillor Greg Sayers has done a great job of putting all the facts together, which has confirmed what we all suspected – our rate money needs to be returned to us.

That is to where whose basic needs have been neglected. For example, I fail to understand why Watercare would put $15 million into a wetland that has already failed, instead of upgrading the Wellsford infrastructure, which is 60 years old and buggered. Especially when we have houses where the sewage bubbles up in the bath and overflows the toilets.

Our water doesn’t taste the best at any stage of the year and the Land Transport Safety Authority has been informed that there is an easement that needs to be in place for the Te Hana water to be delivered to Wellsford, once Watercare stops trying to drill for water in the Hoteo. Here’s hoping someone sees sense. Healthy Waters has now started a plan to manage our catchment areas and also to engage with the people affected – that is the farmers and small landholders. The $26,000 we have is not going to be enough to fix all the deferred maintenance problems we have.

Auckland Transport (AT) has recognised that our rural roads are in a poor condition and is currently working on solutions to make the roads fit for purpose. The roads have been graded away for years and this is not going to be easy as AT has to now compete for product from the local quarries, due to the high demand from subdivisions and motorways.

Other matters:
•     Greg Sayers and myself will be meeting with Panuku in regards to answers over the Araparera Forestry targeted rate debacle.
•     Greenways and Sports Collective have agreed in principle to start a collective. The Council has engaged the services of a consultant to formulate a plan. Wendy Crow-Jones and Lynette Gubb are doing a fantastic job, but we need  to keep up the impetus.
•     A new play space is being planned for the Memorial Park area, behind the  Wellsford Library.
•     Remember to use the CAS system – ring Auckland Council with your complaints, get a CAS number, make sure you keep it, and back it up. This helps Council to build a profile on their performance. If no-one complains, everything must be fine.

If anyone would like to raise issues with me, I am available at the OWL (former library) office on the first Wednesday of the month, from 10am to noon.

Colin Smith
Rodney Local Board
colin.smith@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz