Selwyn Mayor Lydia Gliddon says the district is facing one of the most significant periods of reform in decades, with major government announcements expected before Christmas that will directly affect regional governance, rates, planning and development in the fast growing district.

Speaking to Chris Lynch, Gliddon said the scale of incoming reforms meant the council had to “get everything out on the table” before it could fully understand the implications of the government’s confirmed rates cap and other policy changes.

“I think we actually need everything out on the table,” she said. “Tomorrow we are going to see the RMA reforms. It is a little bit hard to look at the actions and outcomes from rates capping when we still have the RMA reform to work through. We have information on regional council reorganisation. There is also the Public Works Act and the DC levies. There is so much and until we lay all of that out together, it is really hard to look at the outcomes and implications.”

Gliddon said she expected all major reform packages to be released before Christmas, allowing councils to evaluate them as a collective.

“We are going to have all of that out before Christmas so we can lay that out and work through what that looks like for us as a district.”

Gliddon said the government’s proposal to replace elected regional councillors with a combined territorial board was shaping up to be the most significant change since the local government reforms of 1989.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to build back what we need to do,” she said. “This is the biggest thing to happen to local and regional council since 1989. We have the chance to have this on the table and work through what this looks like.”

Selwyn is the fastest growing district in New Zealand, and Gliddon said the proposed changes could offer major opportunities, depending on the final shape of legislation still to be unveiled.

“We have an opportunity to work through what the best outcomes are for people in this space. This discussion has been around for 10 plus years.”

On development levies, Gliddon said the council was currently assessing how the government’s policy shift compared with Selwyn’s current system.

“We are assessing that against our current DC policy to see what the difference is. Off the cuff from the discussion paper I am not actually seeing a lot of difference at the moment. In the new year we will do a workshop with councillors and work through all of those reforms together to see what they look like for us.”

She said timing flexibility appeared to be one of the few immediately clear changes but more detailed analysis was under way.

Amid the uncertainty, Gliddon urged residents to continue supporting local businesses during the busy Christmas season.

“It is so important. It is so much more meaningful when you purchase from a small business,” she said. “I have been a small business owner before. The joy it brings you to see people purchasing locally is great.”

She said she was attending Christmas parades and markets across the district, including Lincoln, Rolleston, Leeston and Darfield.

When asked whether she would be taking a break over Christmas, Gliddon laughed and said paperwork would continue.

“There will be no staring at the wall. There is plenty of paperwork to read. I will be around and we have a fair bit to work through.”