During almost 40 years living and working on the East Coast and contributing to local communities, I have had to wear that mantle many times. Frankly, insults matter little if you believe there is a need for individuals and groups — with the ability and tenacity — to hold local government to account.
Most people simply can’t be bothered and as a consequence the council gets away with murder, complacent in the knowledge they can virtually do what they like — and they do. In my humble opinion, this particular council has developed a certain smugness or disingenuousness in their relationship with the citizens in their care.
Why is this so? I can only speak from personal experience, and will refer to one glaring example in support of my case.
Others may have different tales to tell.
I have always believed that the process of submitting to the Long-Term Plan is a cornerstone of our local democracy. From the ratepayers’ point of view, it supposedly offers the opportunity to be constructively involved in the workings of council. In return, the council gains the benefit of having a much wider catchment of ideas than simply from those who sit around the council table — sadly in ever-diminishing numbers on this manor.
As its highest priority, the council must show how it intends keeping its citizens safe, economically and physically, against the real threat of climate change and the possibility of massive loss of traditional markets. Unfortunately, if you look at the current LTP, there are huge gaps in what is required to form the basis of a credible policy for responding to known and anticipated future threats to our very existence. At present, the council seems asleep at the wheel.
My submission is based on years of investigations, including trips to Wellington at my own expense to have discussions with senior government officials, making observations of the needs of our community, and providing a detailed analysis of how we might best use our limited resources in an environment post climate change. It sets out a plan for a series of investigations into the possible need to restructure infrastructure in order to use our natural resources better in the pursuit of a growing economy, creating thousands of real jobs. All my ideas are in addition to the council’s LTP projects and do not detract from them in any way. They are complimentary in every respect.
Always mindful of the council’s announced desire to remain fiscally responsible, I have had talks with central government to see if this plan could be financed without a cent being added to the ratepayers’ bill. We could be talking in the order of $5 million just to produce the feasibility study.
I am pleased to announce that the Government’s response was very positive. They gave me a list of things to do on return which, not surprisingly, mainly involved gaining support from stakeholders such as the council, affected iwi groups, users of resources etc.
While I have made steady progress achieving that level of support and am confident it will finally happen, the one negative response I have received is from council itself.
I thought the best way for the council to demonstrate its support (particularly to central government) was by including the proposal in the LTP.
Not only has the council rejected that opportunity (for reasons unknown to me), it appears at best indifferent but more accurately contemptuous of this sincere attempt of one its citizens to share ideas and work together for the common good.
They should not underestimate my resolve to get them to acknowledge the advantages associated with embracing my ideas — it will cost them nothing. We’ll see what happens.
See today’s editorial, p14 of the Gisborne Herald
