Complete agenda for October 2009 Council Meeting (pdf, 1610KB)

Northland Regional Council - 21 October 2009 Page 16 Item 6Chairman’s ReportFile 105.4Report from Chairman, Mark Farnsworth, dated 9 October 2009.INTRODUCTIONFrom a Chair’s perspective the month was dominated by:1. Continuing involvement on the Ministerial Technical Advisory Group onaquaculture which required spending two days each week in Wellington. TheTAG report was due on 30 September 2009 - it is now projected to be a weeklate.2. Lobbying associated with the formation of one Auckland. The setting of thenorthern boundary has been a particularly hot issue and from a purelyNorthland perspective it is disappointing that the region (and the KaiparaDistrict Council) has attracted some pointed comments from our neighbouringregion about the ability of the Northland Regional Council to manage anincreased area. From a Chair’s perspective it would appear that the Aucklandsituation has been a catalyst for fractional local government infighting acrossthe whole country. There is little to be gained from political cheap shots. Thereality is that it is a time for mutual support and co-operation.The current situation has not been helped by the Auckland Regional LandTransport Committee determining that the money projected to be spent onState Highway One south of Wellsford would be better spent on centralAuckland transport issues. The section of highway in question wasunfortunately labelled “Auckland’s Holiday Highway”. Cr John Bain, the Chairof the Northland Regional Council’s Land Transport Committee has respondedappropriately (see attached article from New Zealand Transport IntelligenceBriefing).MEETINGS/EVENTS ATTENDEDDuring the period I have attended the following meetings/events/functions:• Meetings attended with the Council’s CEO, Ken Paterson, and Deputy Chair,Cr Ian Walker:- We travelled to Rodney District Council for a meeting with Mayor PennyWebster; CEO, Rodger Kerr-Newell and Assistant CEO, WarrenMacLennan – Proposed boundary changes to Rodney District Council;- Stan Semenoff – Northland Port Corporation Directors.• Terry Burkhardt – Unitary Authorities.• Neil Tiller, Mayor, Kaipara District Council.• Public meeting at Matakana on the Select Committee’s recommendation to splitRodney.• Trevor Andrews, Fire Region Commander, Northland Fire Region and MikeRusbatch, District Commander Northland, NZ Police – Co-ordinating RegionalBoundaries.• Back Benches “Super City Special” hosted by Wallace Chapman.