Submission
Which option do you prefer?
Further comment
It's a great idea to free Aurora from the Dunedin City Council. But future Aurora is best as a Community Owned Trust.
The DCC only holds Aurora as a service to the public, but not met that purpose. Separation best meets the interests of the public. The DCC has a legal right but could not ethically sell just for it's own benefit.
I do not advocate all service should be retained in public ownership, but there are natural monopolies that should be. Services where can only be one system and no alternative for users. Aurora fits that description.
Not mentioned in the proposal is where the One Billion benefit to the council derives from? It will come from the wallets of Aurora users in future years as the buyers regain the estimated billion dollars they pay. DCC ratepayers and Inland pay and the DCC ends up with a huge fund. Exploitive.
I ask each councillor to say it's OK – or not OK to exploit network users. There is no half way on that question.
I suggest a stand alone Trust own the network (or the two big Community Trusts).
Aurora is big enough with guaranteed income stream to attract good talent and to run it well, financing and upgrading a good quality network. It does not have to provide profit to anybody, maximising the money in it's users pockets.
Should this Trust pay the DCC for the privilege of owning this network. In a word NO. If the DCC took responsibility past behaviours future Aurora would come into existence debt free.
Aurora users don't owe the DCC, history suggests the DCC owes the users. So let Aurora go free at no further cost to users. If absolutely necessary it could take it's debt with it.
Supporting information
No associated documents with this submission.
Submitter
Submission id number: 1045515
Submitter name:
Kerry Hand
Organisation