New transport levy causes objections

Press, 24 February 1987, Page 2

New transport levy causes objections

The hearing of objections to the Canterbury United Council’s proposed urban transport levy began in Christchurch today.

The Rangiora District Council, the Kaiapoi Borough Council and the Eyre County Council argued in a combined submission that the proposed levy was unfair. The hearing is being held by the Local Government Commission.

Their two basic grounds of complaint were that the Canterbury United Council did not consult fully with the councils involved and that the proposed method of calculating the levy did not fairly reflect the benefits of that

levy. The levy is to provide funds for urban transport planning and administration, support for transport services for the disabled and for demonstration projects. The share of the levy for each council is calculated from its share of the resident population within the Canterbury Urban Transport Area.

The Canterbury United Council argued that the councils involved had had ample opportunity to make submissions on the new apportionment of net urban transport expenditure for 1986/87. The solicitor acting for the United Council, Mr John Matson, also argued

that that although there could be some time between money being spent and the benefit being enjoyed, all residents of the levied area would ultimately benefit

The solicitor for the three councils objecting to the proposed levy, Mr Nick Davidson, said that the areas north of the Waimakariri River should not be asked to pay for urban transport programmes which were of little benefit to their ratepayers.

The hearing will continue today before members of the Local Government Commission, Mr Brian Elwood, Mrs Heather Little and Mr Ron Wood.