Before I first became an elected member in 2009 I admit I was fairly hazy on what the council, and the Mayor, could and couldn’t do. I wasn’t alone in that and it comes as a surprise to many just how little power in many cases councils actually have.

Take for instance the data centre that is proposed for just below the Clyde Dam. I have had quite a few requests that I step in and stop it happening. There are a number of concerns that these calls are focussing on, being:

• Noise levels
• Visual impact
• Substation funding and future costs for Clyde
• Effect on power prices
• Construction employment numbers
• Ongoing employment numbers
• Benefits to Clyde

In relation to the RMA, it is important to note that the law only deals with the effect of the building, including noise that may escape that building, not what goes on inside the building, so of the concerns noted above, only the top two (noise levels and visual impact) relate to anything council has any place in, being the consenting authority under the RMA.

The other matters fall outside of the laws that council has any jurisdiction in.

I have had similar expressions made in relation to a new vape shop opening in the district. Some people feel very strongly about the harm that may come from vaping, but again, council has no ability to interfere with a legal activity even if some of the community we serve don’t want to see an expansion of the activity in the area.

Local input is looking at being even more diluted into the future, with RMA provisions being able to be fast-tracked under Covid provisions cutting back local input and taking away most appeal rights while the RMA reforms look to be making District planning functions regional.  

As I sometimes tell people, when you become Mayor, you are lent a set of chains, not given a magic wand.