A local voice for the environment is important

The Local Government Commission needs to consider the local voice on environmental issues when deciding on new boundaries for local authorities in the Wellington region.

Recently I spoke to an environmental institute and covered what Hutt City is doing to manage the environmental issues under local government reform and I explained why four local unitary authorities are better for the environment.

There are two main points that make multiple unitary authorities proposed by Hutt City the right decision for the Wellington region.

1. The four local unitary boundaries closely match water catchments and are closely aligned with ecological zones
2. The four unitary model provides a mechanism for ensuring local priorities are met within local authority boundaries to sustain successful existing practices.

My concern, and the concern of my community, is that a single unitary authority will take away the local voice of our people.

In terms of the environment, it would mean the good work being done at a local level will be eroded. The boundary of a United Hutt Valley unitary would encompass the three river catchments of the Orongongo River, Wainuiomata River and the Hutt River, and a large portion of the Rimutakas.

Our local authorities have been managing these zones since the early 1900s, so we have had experience.

My second argument is about the need to provide for local priorities. Our council, for example, has an open door for the likes of Forest & Bird and the Wellington Botanical Society. They have on the ground local knowledge and we can provide the resources to action the local priorities that have been identified.

Other examples of local initiatives include:

• updating our Environmental Sustainability Strategy which is targeted at local issues affecting our environment as identified by local people.
• Hutt City working with our neighbour Upper Hutt City, to develop the Silverstream landfill which is the only Class A landfill in the region. Reduced waste to the landfill highlights the success of local recycling initiatives.
• Earthlink charity which diverts waste from landfill on behalf of HCC.
• Silver Lining - another local Hutt initiative designed to reduce waste from local manufacturers.

Our concern is that such successful local responses to the needs of the environment will be lost under a super city where resources are focused on regional priorities. Multiple unitary authorities provide efficiency gains and are an optimum size. They are also responsive to local needs, a critical issue when considering environmental issues.

Solutions for each territorial local authority are specific to their local habitats. They need local management based on local priorities.

Why is all this so important?

Because it is the air we breathe, stable hillsides, water quality, it is our local landscapes and habitats. It is the place we play in and the views we enjoy.

It is a Hutt Valley Unitary Authority. Hutt City is our habitat. We know what it needs.