Amalgamation is Hutt’s worst nightmare

A group of Hutt City residents formed to fight amalgamation say the Local Government Commission’s plan to amalgamate the region will be a “nightmare” for the Hutt Valley.

Chris MacKay, co-leader of the newly created Hands off the Hutt group, said the plan would devastate the Hutt Valley.

“This is the Hutt’s worst nightmare - being controlled and ignored by Wellington city.

“A supercity will increase rates in the Valley and spend them in Wellington city.

“The result will be loss of control, and loss of investment in our own communities,” Mr MacKay said.

He said the Auckland supercity had shown that the result of amalgamation was soaring rates, powerless local community boards, and overblown bureaucracy.

“Auckland has shown that the promises of amalgamation are illusions.

“Rather than efficiency and a single voice, residents get rate increases, ignored local needs, and stifling bureaucracy,” Mr MacKay said.

He criticised the LGC for making a proposal which ignored the majority of submissions it had received, and the mood of the public.

“The LGC has arrogantly made this proposal in full knowledge that the great majority of residents oppose the idea. It thinks it knows better than the people who live in these communities.

“It is creating division, tension and needless heartache.

“We call on the Government to reign in this out of control quango before it does any more damage,” Mr MacKay said.
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