09/03/2004

Pressure mounts against Lines Co

National pressure may soon be brought to bear on The Lines Company to try to persuade it to drop its controversial street lighting charges against Waitomo, Otorohanga and Ruapehu district councils.

Waitomo mayor Allan Andrews contacted Taranaki-King Country MP Shane Ardern's office and the National Party's local government spokesman Nick Smith has picked up the issue.

The Lines Company's charges were brought in as a response to the councils' rating of utilities - rates that councils are entitled to charge under rating legislation passed in 2002.

Otorohanga and Waitomo district councils were recently issued disconnection notices for failing to pay the charges, which the councils view as unreasonable.

Dr Smith said the public would lose out in a game of tit-for-tat.

"'Nobody wants to see The Lines Company and the councils paying 'lawyers' money that they could use to provide public services," he said.

"'The job of the Government is to make clear laws so that confusion does not rebound on the public."

Dr Smith said the dispute showed there was uncertainty in the law and similar battles were emerging in other parts of New Zealand.

"The Government created this problem with its new local government and rating legislation. They were warned that the new law would create uncertainty and confusion, and that is exactly what has happened," said Dr Smith.

"The law needs to be clear about which charges are allowed and which are not. If there is any uncertainty, Parliament should legislate and make the position plain."

Dr Smith said street lighting was important for traffic and personal safety. ""The Government cannot sit on its hands and. let people's lives be put at risk."

Minister of Local Government Chris Carter has asked his officials to look into the matter.

The dispute has also been brought to the attention of Minister of Energy Pete Hodgson.

Mr Hodgson's press secretary Graeme Speden said the minister expected the disputing parties to resolve the issues themselves.

Waitomo District Council chief executive David Jack said The Lines Company was attempting to trample on the community's safety.

He said council would not single out individual businesses for rates remissions just because they tried to muscle" council into making exceptions.

Mr Jack emailed other councils about the dispute and 28 out of 70 had responded by last Thursday morning.

"No other council in New Zealand, to our knowledge, has had this experience at all. All are united in support of the stand taken by Waitomo, Otorohanga and Ruapehu district councils."

Mr jack said if The Lines Company had a problem with the rating of utilities; it should take its concerns to central government.

He said negotiations were still continuing.

"It's our earnest hope that the issue will resolve itself sensibly this month."

The Waitomo district's streetlights were due to be switched off last Thursday night, but The Lines Company extended the deadline to March 31.

The Lines Company development officer David Hearn said the company decided. to give the Waitomo council more time to help move negotiations forward.

He said the extra time would allow meaningful discussion to take place.

"We're trying to resolve the impasse at the moment," he said.

Repairs to districts' roads will be costly

Repairs to Waitomo district roads are expected to cost in excess of $500,000, in the wake of recent wet weather.

Waitomo District Council chief engineer Andrew Dixon said damage was particularly prevalent at Te Anga, Taharoa and Aria.

Waitewhena Rd was closed after a section of the road was washed out.

Slips had to be cleared from several other roads and traffic cones directed vehicles away from dropouts in the Mairoa area.

Piopio, Te Kumi and Otorohanga were particularly affected by flooding.

In the Otorohanga district, a large washout closed Waitomo Valley Rd

Otorohanga District Council engineering manager Ian. Gooden estimated thin cost of repairs in the Otorohanga district to be about $200,000.