Benefits
Benefits at a Glance:
• One Auckland, One Plan, One Voice
• Transparent Responsibilities & Accountabilities
• Enhanced Service Delivery
• Increased Value for Money, Efficient & Effective
• Strengthened Community Involvement
• Resilient & Adaptable Over Time
• Leadership for NZ's International City
• Enhanced Social, Environmental and Economic Prosperity
International experience has proven that this type of local governance reform can deliver residents at least a 10% saving. At the current $2 billion per year cost of running local authorities in Auckland, $200 million saved annually is no drop in the bucket.
If Aucklanders choose to direct their new found revenue to community services, there is the opportunity for a big difference to be made. Just imagine. Increased funding for community services, groups, activities and facilities, improved parks, better sport and recreation centres, upgraded main street programmes - all could build pride and enhance Auckland's many diverse communities.
If Aucklanders choose to direct their new found revenue to infrastructure, there is the opportunity for a big difference to be made. Just in roading and public transport, we are currently $3.5 billion in the red on infrastructure we need within the next decade. $200 million a year could make a significant contribution to making projects possible by alternative funding.
If Aucklanders choose to direct their new found revenue to rates cuts, every rate payer could have the benefit of choosing what to do with $400 more in their pockets every year.
Here are more benefits in detail:
Issue |
Benefits of One Auckland |
|
Plans aren't integrated with each other, there are competing interests and there is no big picture for Auckland's priorities. No single organisation has full responsibility for the region's infrastructure
|
One Auckland is designed to produce an integrated plan and vision for Auckland's future. It prioritises issues for the Auckland region. It will unify local authority, central government and non-governmental leadership within Auckland. |
| Fragmented powers and responsibilities mean strategies are not delivered on. |
By developing a single long term regional plan One Auckland will provide a mechanism for all parties to agree on implementation of regional strategy. New funding sources and responsibilities will also produce more certainty and responsibility for funding and service delivery.
|
| Regional decisions are sometimes wrongly made nationally or locally. |
Under One Auckland, decisions will be clearly allocated to government, regional and community council level as appropriate. The Community Council structure will enable community involvement and influence at the most appropriate local level, a level where people feel they can influence decisions that impact on their everyday lives. Through their community council, communities will be able to have their views and needs heard.
|
| Joint decision making forums are heavily relied on but have little influence or effect |
Making decisions about joint issues in a more integrated way is the purpose of One Auckland. It is designed to achieve a more unified approach without diluting community interests. The structure is designed to integrate the decisions of Auckland's councils, central government and non-governmental organisations. One Auckland's broader responsibilities will also mean fully integrated decision-making. The Community Council structure is based on the current electoral boundaries. It builds up the local in local government and lines up central government representation taking the co-ordination of leadership even further in a positive direction.
|
| Duplicating activities is wasteful and leads to inconsistent standards. | One Auckland will unite all of the current governance organisations. There will be no duplication of activities, improving standards and providing direct savings. The certainty and stability which will come from uniting strategy and integrating decisions will also improve value. |
| Current regional funding is not enough. | By uniting council activities One Auckland will produce direct savings, economies of scale and supporting revenue. New sources of revenue will also be possible. |
| There is no united public mandate and no united Auckland voice with central government. | One Auckland will unite the public mandate to work with central government on regional issues. The united structure and long term regional plan will both significantly improve regional advocacy on local issues. |
| Auckland leadership needs to be fit for future needs and be able to deal with increasing uncertainty, complexity, diversity and change. | One Auckland is a logical structure that would provide Auckland long term leadership which will respond effectively as one region to challenges and endure change over time |