I am a town planner with 35 years local government experience around NZ. I have worked at Nelson City and since leaving have consulted for Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough Councils. I know how Councils work (or don't). I have been actively involved in the community (Rotary, Safer Community Council), with business (Chamber of Commerce) and in tourism (as a B&B operator). I understand community, business and tourism needs. Over 7 years I have made numerous submissions on Council's Annual and LTCC Plans, planning studies, transport studies and reserve management plans, offering constructive professional opinion. I offer considerable experience, a profesional approach and a determination to get things done effectively and efficiently. It is essential to develop an overall strategic plan for the City (and region) to enable important decisions to be made in that context and not in isolation. That is why you should vote for me.

Top 5 Issues

1. Effective and efficient decision making processes - have more sub-committees or workshops with senior staff and Councillors focussing on key issues/projects, with report backs to Committees or full Council in public sessions
2. Urgently develop overall strategic development plan (combine LTCCP and Resource Management Plan) to give context to all Plan and project decisions - in conjunction with key staff
3. Develop coordinated transport strategy which does not focus entirely on roading solutions, and looks at the strategic aspects of the city and region (eg port, regional hinterland)
4. Develop a conference centre, looking at options with much greater discussion with the private sector and Maori interests, towards achieving a joint venture project
5. Coordinate business and tourism growth through promoting business centres or incubator areas, and making the centre and entries to the city more attractive. Ensure RM Plan provisions encourage business and tourism.

Personal Profile

I have lived in Nelson for 9 years with my school teacher wife. I worked initially for Nelson City Council as the Resource Consents Supervisor, getting to know the inner workings of Council. I left to set up my own planning practice, working for all three Councils in various capacities across the top of the south and private clients large and small. I am also an Urban Design "champion" accredited by the Ministry for the Environment and a Planning Hearings accredited Chairperson, having chaired a number of such hearings in Tasman and Marlborough.

I have become passionate about this city and the Nelson region. I have turned that passion into action, becoming involved in the community in a number of ways.  I have used my professional skills and experience in all aspects of such involvement - in my town planning practice, helping clients get through the consent process as efficiently as possible; in being an active member of the Chamber of Commerce preparing comprehensive submissions to Council's Plans and studies (from Annual Plans. LTCCP's, Reserve Management Plans, the Roading Corridor and Transport Studies, the Heart of Nelson Strategy and others); in helping the community, through being in the Whakatu Rotary Club (recent President), which is involved in projects providing funds and physical assistance to sectors of the community in need (for St John and with the REPLAY sports goods recycling system working with community groups and outlets), and being on the Management Committee of the Nelson Safer Community Council, working towards better urban design and a safer city centre.

I have significant experience of Councils over 35 years, working in Councils of varying sizes around NZ and also consulting to them in various roles. As a town planner I am trained to take a comprehensive approach to all issues, analyse the options and make an informed and objective decision. I also think of the strategic aspects of all aspects, so that decisions made are done so within an overall context. My vision is to have a physical strategic development plan for the City, developed in conjunction with Tasman's regional strategy, so that all development decisions (roading, transport, urban growth, economic development, regional recreation and cultural facilities) can be made in the most appropriate context. I would actively support a more integrated sytem of regional governance - whetehr it be a formal amalgamation or a signficant restructuring of the two Councils.

These are the skills and experience that I offer to Council - that is why a vote for me is a vote for Leadership, Efficent and Effective governance