Submissions Close: Monday 11 June 2012
Everyone is welcome to make a submission on the Representation Review. This notice provides further information about the proposed arrangements and links you to the online submission form.
Make a Submission
About the Proposal
On 22 March 2012 the Tasman District Council reviewed its representation arrangements, and resolved that the following proposal apply for the Council and its Community Boards for the elections to be held on 12 October 2013:
Council Representation
It is proposed that the Council will comprise 13 members elected from five wards, and the Mayor. The five wards reflect the following identified communities of interest:
Golden Bay Ward
Motueka Ward
Moutere/Waimea Ward
Lakes/Murchison Ward
Richmond Ward
The population that each member will represent is as follows:
Ward
Population1
Members
Population per member
Golden Bay
4,950
2
*2,475
Motueka
11,050
3
3,683
Moutere/Waimea
13,000
3
*4,333
Lakes/Murchison
3,540
1
3,540
Richmond
15,550
4
3,887
Total
48,090
13
3,699
1 Population figures are based on Estimated Residential Population as at 30/06/11, provided by Statistics New Zealand, based on the 2006 census, as the national census for 2011 did not proceed.
* does not comply with Rule 19V(2)
In accordance with section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001 the population that each member represents must be within the range of 3669 ± 10% (3329 to 4069), unless particular community of interest considerations justify otherwise.
Reasons for Departing from 19V(2)
Golden Bay Ward be treated as an isolated community for the following reasons:
The Local Government Commission deemed the Golden Bay Ward to be an isolated community in the 2006 Representation Review;
Isolated community requiring specific representation in order to provide effective representation;
Has a very clear geographic line that separates the Bay from the balance of the district;
Weather patterns can vary considerably from the rest of the district with heavy rain causing flooding that can isolate the Bay;
Contracts for roading, parks and reserves etc. are all carried out from depots based in the Bay;
The Bay has a relatively small permanent population which swells considerably during the holiday season with people using the camping grounds and many of the baches that remain empty for most of the year;
Reducing the number of members will compromise the rural voice and increase the population per member to almost 5,000;
There are four distinct communities of interest within the Golden Bay Ward;
There are significant distance and travel times within the ward and to Council headquarters;
Elected members are the eyes and ears of the community, and often the first point of contact for the wards ratepayers and residents.
Moutere/Waimea Ward depart from Section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001 for reasons of:
Exceeding the population formula by 264 is considered to be only minor departure from this section;
By including the 264 into another ward would not change the representation for those wards.
Generally Council considers:
that the ± 10% formula for fair representation does not fit unitary authorities;
there are five distinct communities of interest based on the areas of the former authorities;
the present system provides for fair and effective representation;
retaining the current ward boundaries may not comply with the population requirements in Section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001;
reasons for the ward boundaries include:
There is currently legislation going through the Parliamentary process to amend the requirement for population to comply with the plus or minus 10 percent rule; and
In Council’s view the current ward boundaries reflect the existing communities of interest; and
The alternatives, such as that proposed by the Local Government Commission in the recent amalgamation proposal, does not necessarily meet the population requirements, but will split an existing community of interest.
Community Board Representation
It is proposed that two community boards will be elected. The two community boards would be:
Golden Bay Community Board
Area covered by the present ward boundaries.
Motueka Community Board
Area covered by the present ward boundaries.
The Golden Bay and Motueka Community Boards will each elect four members. They will not be subdivided for electoral purposes.
They would each have two appointed members as follows:
Golden Bay Community Board
Two members appointed from the Golden Bay Ward
Motueka Community Board
Two members appointed from the Motueka Ward
Further Information
Copies of the Council’s resolution and maps setting out the areas of the proposed wards, communities and subdivisions may be viewed and obtained from any Council offices and libraries.
Any queries regarding the Council’s decision should be directed to:
Sandra Hartley, Executive Officer – Strategic Development, Phone 03 543 8554
Submissions
Use the online form to make a submission on the Council’s representation proposal.
Submissions must be received by Council no later than Monday 11 June 2012.
Submissions may also be delivered/mailed to:
Executive Officer – Strategic Development, Tasman District Council, Private Bag 4, Richmond 7031;
or emailed to: info@tasman.govt.nz; or fax to: 03 543 9524
As part of the process of receiving submissions, Council will acknowledge the receipt of your submission in writing.