Ex-mayor backs super-city

PRO-CITY: Former Masterton mayor Bob Francis is "comfortable" with what a super-city can offer. PHOTOS/LYNDA FERINGA

Masterton's incumbent mayor Lyn Patterson and the town's longest serving mayor Bob Francis are poles apart on the super-city issue.

Whereas Mrs Patterson is adamantly against Wairarapa throwing in its lot with Wellington Mr Francis is right behind the idea.

Submitting his thoughts to Local Government commissioners Janie Annear, Basil Morrison and Anne Carter in Masterton yesterday Mr Francis said he was "comfortable" with the draft super-city proposal and recognised the "significant" role two Wairarapa councillors and the chair of the local board would play.

His experience working regionally for over 30 years in both local government and in the health sector suggested by developing and building on strong relationships Wairarapa would get excellent support in achieving its goals and aspirations.

"Wairarapa's leaders need to show more self-belief in their ability to make a case and advocate for their sub-region," Mr Francis said.

Councils were separately investing "often in an ad hoc manner" as far as economic development was concerned and he thought it would be almost impossible to achieve a Wairarapa Water Use Project in a "divided region".

The irrigation project was a major regional economic project funded through regional council rating and central government.

Wairarapa businesses continued to support the viability and sustainability of Centre Port and Wellington Airport and every day thousands of workers from Wairarapa "pour into Wellington and Hutt Valley to help drive those city economies".

Mr Francis said successful cities throughout the world were based on an urban heart with a strong and inter-connected hinterland.

He had long held the view Wairarapa has had a strong and enduring community of interest with Wellington and a commonality of interest.

"Some of the best supporters of Hurricanes rugby and Phoenix football are here in Wairarapa."

Mr Francis said lack of energy and commitment in the last two or three years had failed to make the most of opportunities that exist with shared services.

An example was regional planning.

"The one final step to be made in the Wairarapa Regional Plan of 2011 was for the three councils' planning departments to merge into one - that hasn't happened," he said.

Whereas Better Wairarapa and Wairarapa Chamber of Commerce came out in support of the super-city - at least in principle - the Wairarapa branch of Federated Farmers remained neutral.

President Jamie Falloon told the commissioners this stance had been taken after a poll of members had revealed there were "some concerns" with the super-city proposal.

If the proposal was to go ahead Federated Farmers would want to see strengthened rural representation, better communications with the farming sector, more direction on the rating system, and recognition differentials were an important part of any integrated rating system for a Greater Wellington Council.