Border change proposal angers business leaders

Steve Gillett says having to drive initiatives through a split Kingsland ward is a nightmarish prospect. Photo / Richard Robinson

The Kingsland Business Society is angry at proposed Super City boundaries which it says will chop membership between two different wards, hampering 2011 Rugby World Cup promotion efforts.

It could also affect a special targeted business council rate worth an estimated $150,000 a year.

The proposed border between Mt Albert and Maungawhau-Hauraki Gulf wards runs along Bond St and New North Rd to Dominion Rd.

If the border is accepted about 60 businesses on the north side of New North Rd from Bond St to Ian McKinnon Drive will find themselves in the Maungawhau ward, 10 per cent of the society's 600 members.

Society chairman Steve Gillett said the group had been working towards gaining Business Improvement District status from the Auckland City Council, which would enable it to levy a targeted business rate.

Rates would then be passed on to the society to spend on neighbourhood improvements, events-based marketing and branding.

Mr Gillett said if the boundaries remained unchanged the business district would have to work through two wards if granted the special status - a nightmarish prospect.

One project which could suffer would be street parties during the world cup, which the society was developing with the council.

"That needs a central voice. It's really critical to do things in the area in a co-ordinated way. This is about bringing businesses together collectively, not separating them from their neighbours," Mr Gillett said.

The Local Government Commission is responsible for setting the boundaries. A spokesman said final determinations were yet to be made.

It had received 700 submissions and would be considering all submissions until the statutory deadline on March 1.