Christchurch Councillor Sam MacDonald has said residents from Selwyn and Waimakariri should face tolls to enter Christchurch if their councils refuse to merge with the city.

MacDonald said Christchurch ratepayers were funding major facilities and infrastructure used by the wider region, while neighbouring districts benefited without contributing directly through rates.

“I think it’s a realistic proposal in the sense that at the moment, the outlying councils benefit substantially from the infrastructure Christchurch residents pay for,” MacDonald said.

He said the Government had given councils a rare chance to consider a wider local government shake up. “The Government have given us what I think is a once in a generation opportunity to actually bring together 4 councils into 1, including ECan.”

“That would mean we get greater efficiency, less duplication, and it should put downward pressure on rates.”

MacDonald said if neighbouring councils were not prepared to support a merger, Christchurch ratepayers needed to be compensated.

“The tolls are kind of an illustrative example, but actually there is a practical reality that sits within them, which says if we can’t get this joined up approach, which is best for Canterbury, then ultimately the ratepayers of Christchurch shouldn’t be paying for everything.”

MacDonald said Christchurch ratepayers had made a major contribution to city assets, including the new stadium, while residents in surrounding districts also benefited from events and facilities.

“If you think about the stadium, the ratepayer has put in a substantial amount of money. The Government have as well, but we go and buy events for Christchurch for that stadium.”

“We’ve got Robbie Williams coming here later in the year. There’ll be an expense associated with that.”

MacDonald said major events brought people into the city, but some of the wider economic benefit flowed beyond Christchurch.

“What normally happens when you buy events like that is, yes, the local ratepayers benefit, but you get people flying into the city, they come through and use our airport, which we obviously get a dividend from. They also stay in the accommodation.”

“That doesn’t necessarily occur when you’ve got Selwyn and Waimakariri neighbouring, so they’re effectively getting the benefit from it without any contribution towards it.”

MacDonald said the region needed a more direct conversation about who paid for shared infrastructure and services.

“We need to have these really upfront conversations at the moment. Ultimately, councils have the choice to work together and come up with a solution, and if not, we need to be demonstrating to the people out there that actually there are real costs associated with not working together.”

Asked what his message was to Selwyn and Waimakariri residents who already worked, shopped and spent money in Christchurch, MacDonald said the issue came down to fairness.

“Ultimately the services provided are paid for by the ratepayers of Christchurch.”

“There are 40 percent, I’m led to believe, who commute every day from Selwyn. Ultimately ratepayers are all paying for that benefit that those in Selwyn are getting.”

“It’s about fairness and equity, which is effectively saying if you’re going to use something, you should pay for it.”

MacDonald said a merged council would give greater Christchurch a stronger voice when dealing with central government.

“Now is the perfect opportunity for the councils to work together to become 1 united voice. That will also mean we can get a substantial amount of money out of Wellington because we’ve got a coordinated approach.”

Selwyn Mayor Lydia Gliddon criticised the toll idea, saying the region should be working together rather than creating barriers.

MacDonald said “We don’t need to have barriers if the councils all come together.”

He said the cost of maintaining separate councils could not be ignored.

“It’s all very well to say we’ve got to take a high level view of stuff, but ultimately someone has to pay the bill, and quite frankly at the moment, the Christchurch ratepayer is.”

“If we don’t, there will ultimately be some costs associated with neighbouring councils for making what I would consider to be short sighted decisions.”

MacDonald said he believed a greater Christchurch council including Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri was now likely.

“The city has changed, the region has changed, and now we need to go, how do we position ourselves so we’re best placed to manage growth going forward?”

“That’s really a coordinated joined up approach with less governance, less duplication, less overhead and more value for ratepayers.”