Its about listening and consulting

Is it any wonder citizens have lost confidence in our council’s impartiality, and have given up making submissions.

If council are not ignoring the majority of submissions from our community, in favour of its own waterfront development company (eg, the variation 11 debacle, that allows un-notified development of buildings on our waterfront), council is now allowing its own company to present submissions it has organised to support its own activities?

Unbelievable! Well, perhaps not for this council. It seems to have a track record of not wanting to listen to its citizens (eg, Manners Mall redevelopment, Varation 11, Aro Valley plan changes, and the Carnival).

And just in case we need a more recent example of councils unwillingness to listen or even consult citizens, Tom Law from the Federation of Progressive Associations blasted the council for failing to consult with any community associations before council made a submission on the proposed Local Government Act.

An Act that looks to open the door on privatisation of water. In its submission council opposed the 35 year rule, suggesting 15 years might be more acceptable. Of course, if they had asked the public, the submission might have been more forceful and addressed a greater number of concerns.

Its time we made our council accountable for its failure to consult and listen to us. To vote for fresh new voices who want to listen to what we have to say. Because if we do, council will start listening to us again.

http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=25679, http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=25659