It’s time for new blood. I will bring fresh ideas, challenge the status quo, search for new ways of doing things. My style is straight shooting and independent. Council’s style should be the same so we can all have confidence in and be part of the planning and management of our District.

 I support a number of projects that will shape our future including the town centre and river redevelopment, library, art gallery and theatre. These will all contribute to making Marlborough a better place that people of all ages enjoy and want to live in. But we have to be realistic, where possible spreading the cost over the lifetime of the projects not dumping on today’s ratepayers.

 While I would be new to Council I’m a seasoned campaigner with the experience and track record in community and business to represent your interests properly from day one.

Top 5 Issues

1. Time for a change. Every so often organisations need new blood. An injection of new ideas. People to challenge the staus quo. Now is that time. I will bring those new ideas and look for new ways of doing things.
2. Plan and develop the town centre. This is the heart of the town and needs to be an attractive and interesting place where all the different parts of town – businesses, river, Seymour Square, library all link together.
3. Review how plans are communicated with residents and projects funded. Ensure transparency and be a little innovative around how projects are funded. User pays is a nonsense when the benefits extend over generations.
4. Address the issues that the rapid expansion of the grape industry has brought about and respond carefully now that rapid expansion is at an end.

Personal Profile

“I believe that both Marlborough as a whole and in particular Blenheim have wonderful futures and should continue to be great places to live and also a safe place to raise our children. But we can’t just ignore the future and hope for the best. We need a strategic and comprehensive approach to town and district development with the immediate and longer term future in mind.”

 Andy is supportive of a range of projects that will shape Marlborough’s future. The town centre and river re-development, library, art gallery, and theatre are all worthwhile projects that deserve support. “They will benefit not only people of my age but our children, our grandchildren and maybe even a generation after that.” he says. “We need to be very transparent and a little innovative around the funding models that we apply though.” he says.  “User pays is a nonsense when the benefits extend over generations. Payment should be, where possible, spread over the lifetime of the project, not dumped on today’s ratepayers and citizens.”

 Andy believes that the economic base of the district is in transition. “The explosion of growth from the wine industry expansion is over and that is going to need a very careful and considered approach from the community and the Council. It is critically important that the Council avoids ‘knee-jerk’ reactions.” Leadership is needed to address some of the problems the growth has caused and to develop a smooth and balanced course of action for the town and the district’s future.

 “If we wish for Blenheim and Marlborough to continue to enjoy prosperity and remain attractive places for us to live, and to keep our families here or attract them back, then we must actively build the district’s future while realising  that people have a limited ability to pay.”

FIVE GOOD REASONS TO ELECT ANDY WRIGHTON

Time for a change - every so often organisations need new blood. An injection of new ideas. People to challenge the status quo. Now is that time. Andy is just the person to bring those ideas - to look for new ways of doing things.

Strong independent voice - Straight talking, straight shooting is Andy’s style.

Seasoned campaigner - Andy will be new to Council but his service record shows he’s a seasoned campaigner with the experience to represent your interests properly from day one.

Transparency benefits everyone - Andy says it’s not that Council is necessarily trying to hide things from us - it’s just that often the way Council communicates and presents ideas makes it hard for residents to pick up and engage with the planning and development of their District.

Looking to the future - Andy believes that we have to create a community that our children and grandchildren will want to live in. That means properly planned development of infrastruture, recreational facilities and the region’s economy to ensure that there are quality jobs and opportunities available.