Committee told to get started

Press, 9 February 1989, Page 5

Committee told to get started

By

SUZANNE KEEN

It would be irresponsible for the new Christchurch City transition committee to wait any longer before meeting, says the chairman of the Waimairi District Council, Mrs Margaret Murray.

“There are so many things that have to be sorted out for the new city and so little time to do it in,” she said. "We ought to get started straight away.” Although the Government had not yet passed the necessary law that would give the transition committee its statutory powers, it could still meet and get things started. The committee comprises representatives from the seven district councils plus the Christchurch Drainage Board and Transport Board, all of which will make up the enlarged Christchurch City from the end of this year. Mrs Murray said she was particularly concerned for the transition committee to start work-

ing out the groupings of wards, ward committees and ward boundaries as well as the size and responsibilities of each of the six service centres proposed by the Local Government Commission. The proposed wards and the positioning of service centres made no sense for Waimairi. “The public have no rights and unless we get around the table and try to add some sanity to the scene we will have no say whatsoever.” Mrs Murray said the Christchurch City Council must stop “protecting its own patch” and think about some changes. “It is not going to take us all over and run the new city all by itself. We must have consensus.” The commission’s pro-

posal did not spell out clearly enough how such a big city was to be accountable and easily available to. the people, she said. Of the six proposed service centres, at least three should be big enough to give the surrounding communities the level and quality of service they deserved. They would need building and health inspectors, recreation officers, housing, town planning and water works officers on hand to provide advice to ratepayers, Mrs Murray said. Mrs Murray is contacting other local authorities to try to arrange the inaugural meeting of the transition committee.