The Local Government Commission yesterday released its determination on the boundaries and representation arrangements for the new Auckland Council, including the boundaries for wards and local boards within Rodney District.

The Commission received more than 700 submissions and have made a number of changes to their original proposal, including adding an additional ward for the Auckland Region and two further two local boards.

The Commission has determined that all of Rodney District should be incorporated into the Auckland Region, and the northern boundary of Rodney should become the northern boundary of the region.

Rural Rodney

The Commission has determined that the Rodney ward should be served by one Auckland Councillor and have a population of approximately 54,000.

It determined that the Rodney ward should have one local board, with representatives from four subdivision areas. The Board would be made up of 9 members, with 1 representative from Wellsford, 3 from Warkworth, 1 from Dairy Flat and 4 from Kumeu.

The Commission determined that the boundaries of the Rodney Ward southwards to include properties on the southern side of Hunter Road near Taupaki. The eastern boundary of the Rodney Ward should move west to exclude the area east of State Highway One in the vicinity of Redwood.

A small area of Rodney south of Muriwai would be incorporated into the Waitakere Ward area.

Hibiscus Coast

The Commssion determined that the ward which it originally proposed be named Hibiscus Coast - Albany - East Coast Bays should be renamed Albany, but still include the Hibiscus Coast area and have a total population of approximately 138,000 and two Auckland Councillors.

The ward should have two local boards rather than one as proposed earlier - an Upper Harbour Board and a Hibiscus and Bays Board. The Hibiscus and Bays Board would be made up of 4 representatives from the Hibiscus Coast and 4 from the East Coast Bays area.

The Commission determined that the western boundary of the Albany ward should be moved further west to include an area east of State Highway One in the vicinity of Redvale.

Information about the Local Government Commission's determination is available online at www.lgc.govt.nz.

Unitary Council Move Meanwhile, Rodney District Council yesterday resolved to propose a local bill to exclude Rodney District from the Auckland Council and be constituted as a unitary authority. Rodney Mayor Penny Webster says she has received strong support for the Council's move. For more information about the resolution visit www.rodney.govt.nz.