Bill Dalton

You are probably sick of the amalgamation debate already but sorry, local body amalgamation is going to be the hot topic of conversation up to the 2010 elections and probably beyond.

My great hope is that we can have this debate on an informed and intelligent level, rather than the emotional clap-trap we are currently having.

Regional Councillor Neil Kirton claims amalgamation will save ratepayers 5 to 10 million dollars (now there’s a range). When asked to back that figure up with detail there was a deafening silence. Why? Because he guessed – he made it up – he plucked the figures from the same air that pigs fly around in.

Mayor Yule says there will be savings in the short term but long term savings are unlikely.

Mayor Arnott says there will be no short term savings but long term we might see benefits.

You see – no one knows. No work has been done. No one has done a cost benefit analysis. How can we possibly discuss such a large issue without the appropriate background work being done.

Now we’ve got Murray Douglas, the head of the Chamber of Commerce and a five minute resident of Hawke’s Bay, not only telling us what should be done but when we should do it. The mind boggles at the arrogance of this fellow.

This debate is one we need to have but it needs to be conducted on an informed basis.

And it’s not all about money. If it was I would be very much in the anti team because there is no evidence internationally that such amalgamations save ratepayers a penny.

The debate should centre on whether a regional focus would be better for the future of Hawke’s Bay rather than the current fragmented focus.

And we also need to look at those things that we are currently doing on a regional basis and ask what more we could be doing right now.

So, lets get on and debate the real issues backed by facts and knowledge and we will get an appropriate outcome for Hawke’s Bay.

Related posts:

1. Not convinced on amalgamation
2. Hawkes Bay Council amalgamation?
3. Amalgamation talk again