Bill Dalton

This is my last radio piece for the foreseeable future and I am keen to look forward to 2010.
There are clear signs that international economies, including that of New Zealand, are improving. That doesn’t mean to say there won’t be any bumps on the way, it simply means that at this stage at least, we are heading in the right direction.

And the way we can all help, is to put our shoulders to the wheel and work hard. To increase production. To build the economy.

Labour who were in power for 9 of the most prosperous years the world has seen for decades, failed to grow the tax base, and allowed the growth of a whole industry of benefit and welfare abuse.

But our current government can only blame their predecessors for so long. They need to address these matters and do so urgently.

The article in yesterday’s Dominion which suggested that a so called sickness beneficiary – supposedly addicted to marijuana – had received by way of special needs grants from Work and Income, a new set of tyres for his luxury car, and new fencing for his swimming pool, is nothing short of scandalous. The National lead government must put a stop to these bludgers so that we, as a caring society, can look after those who are truly needy.

People who receive benefits or welfare and don’t really need it are not only stealing from you and me the humble taxpayer, but from the genuinely needy as well.

It must stop.

On the local scene it’s great to see that Hastings has settled on a logo that most will be happy with. Mind you, it wouldn’t be hard to beat Hastings the Salt of the Earth! Hastings the Heart of Hawke’s Bay reflects the geographic position of Hastings, the fact that Hastings is part of Hawke’s Bay and also gives recognition to the organ that Hastings District Councillors use to make financial decisions – if their expanding mountain of debt is anything to go by.

So as I sign off for the last time, I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2010.

This is Bill Dalton from Napier – The Head of, or should I say, the Brain of Hawke’s Bay.

I suppose it is inevitable that at this time of the year we tend to look back and assess how the year has treated us.

From an investment perspective, it has certainly been a better year than 2008 but then again almost every year has been better than 2008.

One very pleasing aspect has been, not just the number of new clients we have met this year but the number of clients who had previously dealt with us and had drifted off for whatever reason, that have returned to the fold. It is never pleasant to lose a client but really pleasing when they have the guts to come back to where they belong.

On the negative side, I am sad about the Radio Networks decision to disestablish Ross Holden’s job and also the fact that, that decision brings to an end the community comments that Ross has always organised. I am sure there will be those who will be delighted not to have my voice disturbing their coffee break, but I will miss the opportunity to have my say. In fact I’ve been contributing to this station since Dave Pipe’s day so I will miss it.

Some of you will know that I post my radio notes to my blog and I intend continuing to update that with a weekly comment so if you are interested, my blog address is www.dalton.net.nz.

From the perspective of a Napier City Councillor, it has been a satisfying year. There have been some significant issues to grapple with and make decisions on but the good news is we have a very good council. We certainly have some strong differences of opinion but unlike some previous councils, we all acknowledge each others right to have an opinion. And we are not, as some would suggest, mere puppets of the Iron Lady.

I really would like to thank my fellow councillors for their support in 2009. In 2008 I was very much the new boy and it really does take a while to feel you are able to contribute. In 2009 I feel I have done that.

So it’s been a good year and its only going to get better in 2010.

In the last couple of days I have read a couple of very interesting reports.

The first was a glowing endorsement of everything the Port of Napier has done and is doing. In fact the article concluded by suggesting that the Port of Napier, is a “model that works.”

The second very interesting piece I read was the very thorough report, prepared by Westshore resident Larry Dallimore, on Westshore Beach erosion.

Napier is very fortunate to have a resident like Larry Dallimore who has the time, the energy and the knowledge to prepare such a detailed report. I congratulate him.

I started by skimming it and got so interested I went back and studied the full report in detail. It is a very good piece of research and I have to say, the timeline that the report produces, provides compelling evidence that the erosion problem that the City of Napier now faces at Westshore is, in part at least, the result of works done at the Port of Napier.

I have always felt this was the case and Larry Dallimore’s report confirms my view.

The major conclusion of Larry’s report is that the Westshore beach, as some of us old codgers remember it, is gone forever. No amount of playing around with groynes, artificial reefs or breakwaters, is going to get us a sandy beach back. What is needed is a sea wall to protect our coastline.

Now I’m no engineer but its obvious to me that by deflecting the force of waves, you are simply transferring the erosion problem from one part of the beach to another. And it seems amazing to me that we as Councillors are not listening to Larry Dallimore, who is a long term resident and observer of Westshore and a man who has a long history in the heavy civil engineering contracting business – yet we place total faith in a bunch of engineers, sitting in an office somewhere, studying simulations on a computer.

Perhaps we as a council need to have yet another look at this problem and perhaps the Port of Napier needs to be putting some funds aside towards remedial work at Westshore.

I’ve been away in Melbourne for a few days to attend a family wedding – and I have to say a good time was had by all.

The headline news in Australia is some barmaid claiming that the South Australian Premier bonked her, amongst other places, on the desk in his office – which only proves that Australia is as bereft of real news at the moment as we are.

The news upon my return late last night was that Hone Harawira is likely to retain his position as a Maori Party MP which only proves that idiots will always get their own way as long as they are big enough bullies.

On the local scene, the news appears, again, to be Marineland. And again we have Marineland’s supporters saying it must stay open and its detractors saying it must close.

Whilst everyone is entitled to their opinion, it is my view that it is still too soon to make the closure decision or in fact to decide to spend millions on the refurbishment of Marineland. Management are providing us with reports and figures next month.

To me – there are two criteria that must be met. Firstly, it must be economically viable. That doesn’t mean to say it has to pay its way directly – it means that the benefits provided to our community, must outweigh the cost to our community.

The second criteria that must be met in my opinion is that we must be proud of the facility.

When the first cries went up to close Marineland, I spent some time looking at the facility and I have to say, if it had to remain in the condition it was in, I would have voted for closure. It was a disgrace and an embarrassment to the city despite the very best efforts of the staff.

So it’s simple. Either we spend the money to bring the place up to a standard we are proud of – and that expenditure has to be justifiable economically – or we close Marineland down. To me there is no point in a compromise position.

Anyway – its back to the grind for me today which I dare say will mean it will appear a long day – who said no cold beer with lunch.

Earlier this week a popular local blog was discussing the performance of various local bodies in Hawkes Bay. In his comments on the Napier City Council the writer stated, and I quote “The only reason to go to a Napier City Council meeting is to see if anyone has died. Decisions regarding the future of Napier that are truly important are made somewhere else. I think at Mayor Barbara Arnotts kitchen table”

I expected better of the writer than that. He has set out to be intentionally mischievous and provocative. He knows exactly how the system works at the Napier City Council and would have served his readers better if he had explained the methodology that results in the good decisions that Napier makes.

It is said we operate a “double debate” system, but in many ways we triple debate issues.
 
Let me tell you how it works in practice. When a matter is brought to councillors’ attention we go and have a look at the area concerned. It might be a drain or an intersection, or the provision of sports grounds. We go either individually or collectively and inspect the issue. We then go into the main committee room with the relevant officers and thrash the matter out at a seminar. This no holds barred situation is my kind of forum – no rules, no standing orders, no limit on speaking rights, no silly bloody conflict of interest rules – simply an honest investigation of whatever the matter may be. Often broad agreement is found at the seminars and the matter then goes on to a committee agenda. The matter or issue can then be debated in a more formal forum and the recommendations of the officers are tabled in writing. At any time councillors can introduce new information or comment on presented information before a vote is taken. In practice much of that comment has been made at the seminar stage and for some, only needs to be repeated when the press is present.

If passed at the committee stage the issue goes to the full council and generally goes through without too much further comment apart from a degree of political grandstanding.

So that’s how the system works in Napier and it is one of the reasons why Napier people are far more satisfied with their elected representatives than others are with theirs.

Well before I became a Napier City Councillor, I made the call to link the Napier CBD with Ahuriri using an appropriate public vehicle.

One of the first things I did as a City Councillor was to renew that call and the Council Officers are now investigating that proposition as part of their review of Marineland and other tourism facilities.

Exactly one year ago on this radio station, I again canvassed the idea of a tourist link between the Aquarium and the old Customs House in Ahuriri.

Now Councillor Mark Herbert has embraced the idea but he wants to install a transport system that was all the vogue over 100 years ago.

Well I’ve got to tell you Herbie – I would not want to be the one who had to tell Marine Parade residents that their peace was going to be destroyed as we installed the tracks down an already narrow transport corridor – as we installed the ugly poles that will carry the untidy mess of wires overhead. I would not want to be the one who had to tell the Motelliers along Marine Parade that their ongoing peace was going to be shattered by noisy trams and that the view from their premium rooms would be blighted by the ugly infrastructure required by trams.

And what about at the other end? Hardinge Road would look great with poles and wires everywhere and if we decided to sneak down the bypass there could be major disruption to port traffic.

In my view, a 19th century solution to a 21st century problem makes no sense at all. We need to be thinking about an aesthetically pleasing, environmentally sound, energy efficient solution that gives us flexibility. For instance, it may turn out that the service is only viable for 6 months of the year. Nothing could be a sadder look for a city than all the infrastructure that trams require sitting there with no trams running.

So I support Councillor Herbert in his call for a proper link between Napier’s CBD and Ahuriri – I just don’t think that old fashioned trams are the answer.

What next Herbie – are we going to see Vinnie delivering our council papers on a Penny Farthing.

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.

Last night I had the pleasure of being part of a panel, discussing the local body structure of Hawke’s Bay, the proposed local body structure of Hawke’s Bay and other issues that are contentious here in the Bay.

The function was hosted by Auckland University and the questioners were 100 odd young geography students. And boy – they didn’t take any prisoners. With the honesty of youth they certainly didn’t spare the panellists.

As part of one answer I explained that whilst I am relaxed about Hastings building a sports park and that, of course it will add to the region’s sporting facility stock, it could not reasonably be called “The Regional Sports Park” because there was not a regional consultation process undertaken before the project was begun.

My argument remains that if the region was to build another sporting facility, and the region was going to be asked to assist with funding, then the region should have been consulted as to the siting of the park, the scope of the park and what sports should be included. For instance, Napier might have argued that a competition swimming facility was a greater need for the region that a Velodrome – who knows?

Hastings District Councillor Mick Lester took me to task. He explained at length that the Hastings District Council undertook extensive consultation with sporting codes across the Bay before deciding on the make-up of the Park.

Of course you did Mick. You dangled the promise of world class facilities in front of these sporting codes and naturally they were enthusiastic. I wonder if they would have been as enthusiastic if they had been informed of the cost of moving to and maintaining their presence in such a facility.

And what about Rugby League? They haven’t got a home at all. Could it have been an idea to do something for that sport?

As we move towards a more regional approach to decision making, we need to look to those examples of regional co-operation that are working. And one is the Omarunui Landfill committee. Run out of Hastings, chaired by a Napier City Councillor – a committee that is not interested in proving points – a committee that simply works for the region.

I want to make my position on local body amalgamation in Hawke’s Bay very clear.

I believe amalgamation is inevitable and when it happens it will be positive for Hawke’s Bay as a region.  What I am against is politicians trying to promote a shotgun marriage to suit their own political agendas.

Simply put, a rushed, poorly thought out forcing together of the various authorities will be an expensive disaster for the region whereas a merger at an appropriate time and with the appropriate preparation will be cost effective and positive for the region.

There has been huge progress made in bringing the councils together although, of course, there is much more to be done.  We need to align all regulations and rules.  We need to align contract and tender dates.  For instance the Napier City Council has just let their kerbside rubbish collection contract for a shorter period then normal so that it comes up for renewal at the same time as does the Hastings’ contract.  There are so many positive initiatives under way, it would be a shame to see them disrupted by political agendas requiring indecent haste.

My very good mate, ex Hastings District councillor Mike Donnelly has accused me of having a “protecting the patch” mentality.  I do – I am happy to admit it.  The patch I am working to protect is Hawke’s Bay but let me make it very clear:  I am paid by Napier ratepayers and I will be making sure Napier interests are protected in the lead-up to and during the inevitable merger.  As a proud product of Hawke’s Bay I have the interests of the region at heart.  As a Napier City Councillor I have a responsibility to ensure my ratepayer’s interests are protected.

There is an enormous amount of work to be done to produce a financial plan that ensures that any amalgamation is equitable.  We need to look at debt levels, future commitments, infrastructure financing, the list goes on.

A large number of Napier residents believe the establishment of a unitary authority makes sense as I do.  But I am sure they would all agree that the amalgamation process must be a fair and equitable one and be done in an appropriate and sensible time frame.

Personal political ambition has no place in this process.

Hastings District Council Mayor Lawrence Yule has certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons with his announcement that he is seeking a fourth term as Mayor, on a platform of establishing a unitary authority for Hawkes Bay.

And you have to wonder what his motives are – making the announcement 14 or 15 months ahead of the next election. Sure, from a political perspective he has seized the initiative from HB Regional Council Chairman, Alan Dick, who clearly sees the Mayoralty of Hawkes Bay as his as of right. And what of Mayor Barbara – does she see herself as “Queen Bee” in this new hive of political activity?

I can’t help but wonder if Mayor Yule, who is also President of Local Body New Zealand, might be the leg man for his new found friends in Wellington led by Rodney Hide. I wonder if Mayor Yule’s proposal of amalgamation is any part of a deal to secure funding for pet projects. Whatever the case, I am sure that little Rodney will be dancing with delight at the announcement.

I am still not convinced that full amalgamation is the right thing right now. In recent times there has been a concerted effort at political and officer level, amongst all the councils, to work co-operatively. Hastings District Councillor Wayne Bradshaw and I have been campaigning for even greater co-operation between our two councils and this is really gathering momentum. Why then, do we need to rush in to amalgamation? Aren’t we better to continue the process that is already under way – to progress matters in an evolutionary manner rather than stage a revolution.

Auckland is the first victim of Rodney’s revolution and clearly there will be all sorts of mistakes made and lessons to be learned. Why don’t we make haste slowly and give ourselves time to learn from Auckland’s experience.

Mayor Yule suggests there are enormous savings to be made as a result of amalgamation but, all current buildings will be utilized, staff members are going to be protected and we will have more elected representatives. All I can say is – the ball is in your court Lawrence.

You have made the call – now you need to convince us all that your plan will be beneficial to all ratepayers in Hawkes Bay.