Joint media statement from:
Hutt City Council
Upper Hutt City Council
Greater Wellington Regional Council

Tuesday 24 April 2007 Reference #422447

Wellington Regional Strategy mediated settlement reached

A mediated settlement regarding the proposed implementation of the Wellington Regional Strategy was reached on Friday 20 April 2007 between Hutt City Council, Upper Hutt City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council. This settlement will be considered by Greater Wellington’s Wellington Regional Strategy Committee at its next scheduled meeting on Wednesday 2 May.

The Wellington Regional Strategy (WRS) is the culmination of two-and-a-half years intensive effort involving all of the region’s Councils, and is the beginning of what all the region’s leaders believe should be a significant next step in economic development activities for the region as a whole.

Under the agreement it is proposed to limit the economic development activities of Greater Wellington to a fixed date of 30 June 2012, It is also proposed to cap Greater Wellington’s WRS rate funding at $5 million, plus CPI adjustment, until 2012.

It was agreed that by 30 June 2011, a full and independent review of the effectiveness of the entire WRS will be completed and reported to Greater Wellington’s WRS Committee. If the outcome of the review is a desire to continue with the Greater Wellington governance and funding arrangements, then a full consultative process must be undertaken by Greater Wellington before 30 June 2012.

It was also agreed that the voting provisions for Greater Wellington’s WRS Committee will be amended from a simple majority to a 75% majority for a range of significant decisions.

Hutt City Mayor David Ogden, Upper Hutt City Mayor Wayne Guppy and Greater Wellington Regional Council Chairperson Ian Buchanan said they were all happy with the outcome of the mediation process and awaited with interest the Greater Wellington WRS Committee meeting on 2 May where the future of the Wellington Regional Strategy would be discussed in greater detail.

ENDS

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