Marlborough District Council asked the Crown to guarantee its proposed loan of $150 million to Port Marlborough for the ferry precinct development, but it was refused.
What s next for councils? That s the question driving the biggest shake-up of local government in a generation.
Marlborough s answer: be more like us.
Marlborough Mayor John Leggett.
Photo: Brya Ingram / Stuff via LDR
A review of local government was last week announced by the government in response to its own plans to tweak and absorb two of the main roles of councils - water and resource consents.
Marlborough Mayor John Leggett said without these tasks, councils of the future could put more emphasis on other areas - something the review panel could guide. Reading between the lines, there may very well be an opportunity for councils to be given other responsibilities, like increasing our portfolio for senior housing, he said.