By JO-MARIE BROWN
TAURANGA - A breakaway group of Western Bay of Plenty District councillors and dissatisfied ratepayers will contest the next local election under the banner of a new political party.
The Democracy Network Association, launched in Tauranga yesterday, aims to win majority support on the district council in October next year.
It was formed after five existing councillors and a group of ratepayers became unhappy with council bureaucracy and decisions.
Association spokesman and sitting councillor Geoff Harper said ratepayers felt they were not being listened to and some councillors were marginalised for disagreeing with majority decisions.
"It has been a real battle. Councillors like myself have had no access to computers, databases, secretarial assistance and no ability to get contestable advice or information."
Mr Harper said the new party also opposed financial decisions such as rate increases and the expansion of waste and stormwater facilities.
"This district, which has a fairly small ratepayer base, is facing enormous and unsustainable infrastructure developments.
"Council debt is expected to rise from $6 million to $100 million over the next 10 years.
"That's an enormous financial burden to take on, based on very optimistic growth assumptions."
Mr Harper said the party wanted to take control of the district, demand greater accountability, rationalise costs and extend consultation with ratepayers.
The association had about 25 members and was seeking further support for its "ratepayer revolution" to draw up policy objectives before the next election.
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