​Councillor questions establishment of oversight group for Climate Action Targeted Rate

​An oversight group has been established for the Climate Action Targeted Rate but not before being challenged by one councillor.

The Climate Action Targeted Rate (CATR) will fund improved bus services, hydrogen or electric public transport, further tree planting and improve the active network for walking and cycling.

At the Governing Body meeting on July 28 the body voted to establish the oversight group which will provide direction and endorse projects under the CATR.

While the oversight group is intended to guide decision making and report back to the Governing Body, it has no operational powers.

Cr Wayne Walker was concerned that an oversight group was being established for the CATR but not for other targeted rates.

“This is one of a series of targeted rates. We have got a water quality targeted rate. We have got an environment targeted rate. We have got a transport targeted rate. We have even got a regional fuel tax,” Walker said.

“We do not have any such group for any of these other rates many of which are for their purpose far more targeted.”

Mayor Phil Goff said that Auckland Transport would be enacting many of the changes under the CATR.
“There is a good reason to have a monitoring group because it is being largely administered through a council controled organisation,” Goff said.

Strategy and Research general manager Jacques Victor said it was the first targeted rate that was largely at arms length to council.

“We are talking over one billion dollars here… we want to give people the comfort that the funding is used exactly as the targeted rate was struck,” Victor said.

Victor said that the sheer interest from the public justified the establishment of an oversight group.
Cr Richard Hills said the oversight group had been requested by local boards, members of the public and even some councillors.

“This is going to be a the oversight group that can check and challenge,” Hills said.

“Forever in a day we hear that Auckland Transport is not listening and we should have more political oversight of Auckland Transport.”

Hills said that making sure Auckland Transport was doing what Auckland Council and the public wanted from the CATR was crucial.
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While the establishment of the group was voted in favour Cr Christine Fletcher abstained from the vote.