MEDIA RELEASE:

TUESDAY 31 JANUARY, 2012


1council is an Historic Step Closer for the Region

Amalgamation representative of electors, Aldo Miccio says the Local Government Commission’s decision to give the region its own vote for a council amalgamation is historic, and brings the community a step closer to having One Council.

Today the Local Government Commission presented its recommended reorganisation scheme for a Nelson / Tasman council union, outlining the upcoming public polling process.

“For the first time, we can see in black and white how a future One Council would look,” Miccio says. “After 15 months of research, submissions and hearings, the Local Government Commission has found in favour of amalgamation for our region, which is a great endorsement for One Council.

“From my experience growing up in the region, and as a local body representative, I had anticipated when I began this amalgamation process in 2009, that a council union would provide better governance for the region, and now that the research has been done, I am convinced it will be a better way to govern.

“This process has proven that there will be costs savings, efficiencies, and better community representation,” he says. “It makes sense – one mayor, one CEO, one senior management team and a better diversity of quality councillors to provide one strategic vision for the whole region.

“I’d like to thank all those who signed the petition back in 2010 asking for an investigation,” he says. “This was our goal – to put the decision in the public’s hands, and we’ve done it. The opportunity is now, and finally the region can realise its potential."

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Background

Aldo Miccio launched a petition in July 2009, with the goal of triggering a Local Government Commission investigation into Nelson and Tasman Council amalgamation options. The petition successfully achieved the 10% threshold of certified signatures of both Nelson and Tasman electors, as required in the Local Government Act 2002.

The Local Government Commission, agreeing with the petitioners that a union would deliver better governance to the region than the current model, presented a draft reorganisation scheme. On 19 July 2010, the Local Government Commission called for submissions on the proposal to amalgamate the two councils. It received 451 submissions by 8 November 2010. Hearings were held in December 2010. On 16 June 2011, the Commission issued a draft reorganisation scheme for the union of Nelson City and Tasman District. The Commission then received 395 submissions on the draft reorganisation scheme. For more information go to www.lgc.govt.nz

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