Malvern undecided on restructuring

Press, 12 August 1985, Page 13

Malvern undecided on restructuring

The Malvern County Council will “wait and see” what happens to the Christchurch councils before deciding a policy for local body restructuring, said the County clerk, Mr B. W. Perrin.

Options the council could take were discussed at a special meeting recently and reported back to the council meeting on Friday. The chairman, Mr G. E. Wright, said Malvern had already discussed the restructuring with its neighbouring counties, Ellesmere and Paparua. Malvern county’s boundaries could change under

the restructuring. Mr Wright said.

It was possible the county could extend to take in rural areas of Paparua County, if the Christchurch City Council’s amalgamation proposals come about. The Te Pirita area of Ellesmere County and View Hill near Oxford could also come under consideration.

“Support could only be given for proposals which provide a better economic base for ratepayers and residents,” Mr Wright said.

Whatever happened, Darfield should remain the administration centre, he said.

The County Engineer, Mr Alan Watson, has resigned to take up a job in Western Samoa.

The job entailed developing a hydro-electric power generating system for Western Samoa’s Electric Power Corporation, Mr Watson said.

“They have been generating power with diesel up to now but that’s proving too expensive,” Mr Watson said. “It will certainly be different from work here.” Mr Watson has worked for Malvern County for 10 years. He and his family will leave for Western Samoa on Sentember 7.