This election is about choice – your choice.  How much will your rates increase and why?   How much will the DCC spend?  What is the Council debt?  How is this going to affect Dunedin going forward?  These are the real issues that face our city.  My family and I love Dunedin and being part of the community.  With your support I will work on your behalf to control rates and understand spending ensuring this is fair and justified, work on growing jobs and welcoming new people to Dunedin to help see our city grow and prosper. 

 

I challenge you to find another city of its size anywhere in the world that has the natural assets, infrastructure and services along with the intellectual minds.  Let’s embrace our great location, partner with the bright minds and engage the world through technology.  We have the tools to be a world-leading community.   We can be a “green city”, be a business city and be a high-tech city.  So let us continue to support and build a city that has strong community spirit and provide an environment where we love to work, live and play.   We have the ingredients to be a great city.  Let’s not drown in debt to achieve this. 

 

You, elect Councillors to represent you and provide governance to the Dunedin City Council.  Councillors are the voice of the rate payer, not the Council.  I want to be your Councillor and your voice! Vote Whiley as your first choice!

 

Top 5 Issues

1. CONTROL RATES - Rates grow through expenditure. With a debt that will be $650 – $700m by the time the current construction programme is complete, there is no wiggle room. The council and their companies need to control expenditure, keep to timelines, and improve revenues. Council needs to manage consulting costs, establish correct project management timelines and monitor DCC staff numbers. By creating new industry and growing jobs and increasing revenues our rate increases will be minimised. Needs not Wants!
2. GROW JOBS - we have talented minds so lets futher develop the oportunities. Technology is coming to us and Dunedin as a city currently has 550 jobs in this industry. Comparing ourselves to Dundee in Scotland (similar economic issues) we could grow to 2300 technology jobs, bringing an annual revenue of $350m+.
3. GREEN TECHNOLOGY - Within the city boundaries we have amazing opportunities. Dunedin can be the global “Green City” as we have the minds and technologies to harness what is around us. We can reuse what we are leaving behind and use technology to improve our living standards and lower our costs –we could harness hydro-turbine energy to power Moana Pool at 25% of the current costs! Two wind turbines could power all the street lighting in Dunedin.
4. SAFER STREETS - Having spent Saturday nights with the Community Patrol, monitoring activities in the Octagon, I have seen firsthand, the issues that relate to students, the city youth, the drinking-related behaviour and the role of the Police. Let’s stop off-license alcohol sales after 8 p.m. and work with supermarkets on responsible liquor sales. Why are no public toilets open after 9p.m. anywhere between the university and the Octagon? This is a problem! Let’s increase CCTV coverage and provide greater supports to organisations like the Community Patrol that are out there assisting our community.
5. COUNCIL TRANSPARENCY - We need a council that governs the DCC, Councillors that listen to and engage with the public and have a transparent approach. I have recently attended full council meetings where 75-80% of council business was conducted behind closed doors. Why? Maybe 10-15% is acceptable but not 75-80%!

Personal Profile

Andrew Whiley, aged 44.  Married to Jackie, children, Paul and Emily aged 12 and 9.  Grew up in Wellington, lived in North America for 13 of 16 years.  Moved to Dunedin from Vancouver, Canada in 2003.  Self employed, Golf Professional at the Chisholm Park Golf Club.  I enjoy working with people and look forward to making a difference!