Top 5 Issues

1. Water
   
   When I first heard that the government was going to scrap the democratically elected ECan and appoint commissioners to allocate water, I started a facebook group in opposition. From that, I became a key member of the Our Water, Our Vote group, and I have been instrumental in organising a number of the protests that have kept the pressure on the government and the story in the media. While the community board has no influence over ECan and what happens in the countryside, it is still important to consider the water issues that effect people within our community - especially those in the poorer areas of the ward. Improving the water quality of the Heathcote, the estuary, and other bodies of water - as well as maintaining a safe standard of drinking water - is something I am very passionate about.
2. Inner City
   
   I am one of the proud but few inner city residents. The council has talked often of the important of having a vibrant inner city, yet has done little to stop the people and the businesses who provide that vibrance from radiating out into the suburbs and malls. I believe that the community board should be focussing on making the inner city not only a more attractive place to work, but a more attractive place to live as well.
3. Sustainable City
   
   Instead of looking forward to the transport needs of the city in 2051, we have a council that rushes an extension of the tourist tram for 2011.
4. Economic development
5. Transparency and Engagement
   
   This current council has become increasingly removed from the people it is meant to represent - and consequently, the people it is meant to represent have become disengaged with the political process. A successful council and community board will be one that can engage with it’s constituents, and that can only happen when people feel like they do actually have a voice. While we can’t hope to please everyone with the decisions that are made, we can aim to make decisions and come to conclusions in a manner that can be clearly understood by all parties. This is why I feel that transparency and engagement are intimately linked, and both are integral parts of a successful local government.

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