Investigation of a petition by Wānaka man Dean Rankin seeking for the Upper Clutha to leave Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is unjustified, according to a letter to the Local Government Commission (LGC) signed by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) chief executive Mike Theelen.

However, the letter acknowledges there is “clearly some level of perception of inequity amongst the Wānaka-Upper Clutha community”, saying concerns have been ongoing since Wānaka was amalgamated with the QLDC in 1989.

The ‘Wrexit’ proposal was mooted two years ago on social media by Dean, a long-term local, and a petition of support was circulated.

The petition of 1,200 voters was presented to the LGC, requesting it review and investigate the representation of the Upper Clutha District to create a new district council for the area of the current Wānaka-Upper Clutha ward.

The petition said changes in the ward’s population size and demographics had made local governance by the QLDC ineffective and undemocratic; and that rates were not spent fairly or equitably in this ward. 

Read more: ‘Wrexit’ movement takes another step

QLDC’s response to the petition says council uses scheme-based, targeted rates which ensure “that funding and expenditure remain generally proportionate across all the wards in the district”. 

QLDC said an investigation has “potential to increase division in the community, enhancing further a perception of “them and us” between Wānaka-Upper Clutha and the rest of the district”.

The letter said QLDC would “actively pursue” work to “address any misconceptions about investment, representation, and levels of service in the ward”.

All councillors were able to attend a workshop on QLDC’s response to the petition recently, but deputy mayor Quentin Smith said only one councillor’s feedback was included in the draft letter as two others (including himself) missed the deadline.

Quentin told the Wānaka App, while the letter “broadly reflected the views of councillors”, he thought the term “misconceptions” was unhelpful language.

“Certainly people believe there is an inequity but that is up to the commission to decide. The council should be neutral,” he said.

“I’m happy for the commission to undertake an investigation into that. It’s effectively a conflict of interest for elected members to determine whether or not we’re doing a good job.

“We’ll be bound by any findings from the commission… and as I understand it there would have to be a referendum to exercise a change, if a case was found.”

The letter says Wānaka-Upper Clutha sees its share of investment from rates and receives a capital investment proportionate to the size of population (Wānaka-Upper Clutha is a third of the district’s population and QLDC said it receives 30 percent of investment).

The letter said the district “is becoming increasingly interconnected because of “higher volumes of traffic moving back and forth” between Queenstown and Wānaka.

It said the cost of investigating the case further would result in “significant” impacts on staff resourcing, and if a community poll was required that would be estimated to cost $90,000.

Public engagement on the issue has “potential to increase division in the community, enhancing further a perception of “them and us” between Wānaka-Upper Clutha and the rest of the district,” it concluded.

Petition initiator Dean Rankin told the Wānaka App the letter seemed to say “there’s no need for an investigation but thanks for asking”.

He was critical of the fact it did not acknowledge that the Wānaka ward, via rates, has contributed to the legal costs QLDC has incurred from historic leaky building claims, or other costs “blow-outs” on the other side of the hill.

“We just want a genuine answer for everybody, more than anything,” Dean told the Wānaka App.

“I think we should stand up and be heard, more than we have been so far.”

PHOTOS: Wānaka App