Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Outgoing councillor fears for super city

Updated at 6:16 pm on 18 October 2010

An outgoing Auckland regional councillor has used his valedictory speech to take a swipe at the new super city, calling it a train wreck.

The council has been holding its final meeting on Monday, with each councillor giving a last address.

Councillor Joel Cayford said the Auckland Regional Council is going out with a whimper, rather than a bang - and described his speech as a eulogy.

He says he's worried the regional council's focus on the environment will be lost because the new, combined council will have so much more to worry about.

He says the current council has been able to keep a regional view without worrying about things like pipes and footpaths that occupy district and city councils, whereas the new council will have all that on its plate.

And in reference to the regional council's push for public transport, Mr Cayford says the super city is a bit of a train wreck - but he hopes it won't wreck the trains.

Other councillors shared a wariness of the super city, with one calling it threat to democracy, but others say they're optimistic that it will be a success.

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