Letter to the Editor Tuesday March 26, 2013

Rough seas

The Far North District Council's achievement in reducing debt while keeping rate increases in general to a small percentage over the past couple of years is to be commended, especially so when noting the storm of world recession that we are enduring.

Given that the recession is far from over, it would seem sensible not to rock the boat when in such rough seas.

The proposal to make a change to unitary authority administration, while creating great interest aboard the ship, will require much distracting activity for the council members and staff. However we all hope that there will be great savings to be made by a more streamlined administration, and that this will enable further debt reduction, even perhaps rates reduction and progressive works.

Considering all of the above it does seem imprudent for council to be suggesting the implementation of a revised 'fairer' rating regime at this time.

With New Zealand's inflation of less than 2 per cent and social security and national superannuation payments up 2 per cent, the proposal to raise average rates by around triple this figure, at over 6 per cent, seems quite irrational, and likely to cause hardship to the largest (residential) sector of the community.

The large rate increases proposed for forestry, which only uses the roads once when the trees are felled after decades of healthy growth contribution to the economy and the environment, seems quite flawed.

The quarrying sector is also being targeted with heavy additional charges. Mostly these quarries produce crushed and graded metal for the council to purchase for road extensions and maintenance.

The rate increase will have to be recovered by increasing their prices for metal to their customers - the council. Flawed again.

Why not play it safe and take one step at a time? The shambles of the EEC system, the Novopay debacle and Te Ahu are good examples of what can happen when too much change is made too quickly.

Yes me hearties, keep your sails trim and hold your course until the storm abates!

THE ANCIENT MARINER

Cooper's Beach