May deadline on reorganisation

Press, 20 February 1986, Page 5

May deadline on reorganisation

Christchurch councils have been given to May to agree on a one-city amalgamation.

If a consensus is reached on how a one-city administration should be implemented or an acceptable alternative suggested the commission was likely to endorse it at its May meeting, Mr Elwood said.

If not, the commission would begin a year-long process of notifying its own plan of implementation.

The public would have a month to call for a survey on any proposal

notified by the commission. Fifteen per cent of voters in any of the council areas affected could call for a poll that must be held within 42 days of the end of the month, Mr Elwood said. The survey would be to measure opposition to a ’ specific proposal, by means of a yes or no vote. If 50 per cent of those polled voted against the proposal the commission would be obliged by law to reject it and suggest an alternative. Otherwise the commission would publish the details of its reorganisa-

tion plan, the public have two months to lodge objections and a hearing then be held. ’ If the commission did not find substance in the objections, objectors would have the right of appeal to the High Court but only on a point of law, not on the scheme itself. Amalgamation would be finally put in place by an Order-in-Council signed by the Governor-General. Mr Elwood estimated the process would, take a year to complete. It could be done much more quickly if councils agreed on details, he said.