Ex-mayor favours district re-think
No to amalgamation but yes to a reorganisation, says a former Gore mayor, who believes it is time for organisation of districts to start making a bit more sense.
Southland District Mayor Rob Scott has been pushing for the amalgamation of the four Southland districts into two unitary authorities.
This year, Mr Scott and the Southland District Council submitted their proposal "Southland Local Government. Together, for our Future" to the Local Government Commission.
Former Gore district mayor Tracy Hicks said he had a different view.
"I hate the name 'amalgamation'. I think there's lots of opportunities for reorganisation, but amalgamation has a bad track record.
"I'd challenge anyone to point to amalgamations that have saved money and kept services at a similar level, or improved services."
However, there was room for a reorganisation of districts to better suit the region's geography, he said.
"Let's work in units where we naturally fit, as opposed to trying to force communities together that don't have a lot in common with each other.
"If you overlay that with a unitary authority, it would be good. You could have two in Southland, plus the city council."
Mr Hicks said his experience in the retail sector had led him to believe the Gore district should be expanded out to all who would seek out services in Gore.
"The people who came to shop at The Warehouse were from Lumsden, Browns in the west, Clinton, Wyndham, and as far down as the coast.
"That's the natural catchment for a district council based in this part of the world and I think it would work really well," he said.
How rural districts and their catchments were organised did not make much sense to him and it was worth looking at, he said.
"At the moment we have Waikaia administered by Southland District Council based in Invercargill. It's a long way away.
"The likes of Tapanui, most of the business people do, if they can't do it there, they'll come to Gore. They won't go to Balclutha, yet they're a part of Clutha."
Mr Hicks said the Southland District Council's proposal had its merits but it required more scrutiny and more options.
"I think the time is right. I'm just not sure the scale of what's been talked about so far is one that would deliver value for the community,"
On the promised savings for the district, Mr Hicks said he was sceptical of the amounts promised, and also it should not just be around saving money.
"Could you promise cost savings? I don't think there would be anything like what people believe there might be.
"If you're only doing it to save money, I think we'll all be sadly disappointed with what we get."
It was about finding the best fit for communities and he wanted more common sense when determining districts' borders.
When Gore first amalgamated to include Mataura, Mr Hicks was a staunch opponent, but said he now believed there were benefits to be had with councils joining and reorganising.
"I'm very in favour of having the debate, having the discussion. But let's not rush to one option first."
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