Jan for Council North Shore Ward 

An  independent  Councillor  with  17 years Council/Community Board experience. She does not belong to any political party or ticket and believes that in a common sense approach to issues.

Jan has a legal back ground  and   is Deputy Chair of Council’s Regulatory Committee, a qualified  Hearing Commissioner Chair, former WEPB member and Board Member for ten years on both Waitemata Electricity and  Pumphouse Trusts. She has been a long time member of the Waitakere Ranges Protection Society and believes that our local & regional parks, our islands, gulf & harbour help make Auckland into the most beautiful city in the world.   

The new Council needs people who know  Auckland well . Jan has spent her entire life living in the city. She grew up in Point Chevalier and  has lived on the Shore for 45 years  Jan believes the new Council must work in harmony to make it into a city to be proud of: that Councillors must acknowledge the differences in each of the regions;  each and every comminuty must be encouraged to place its stamp on its area: i.e. in the North Shore  Beachhaven, Northcote, Birkenhead, Glenfield, Sunnynook, Hillcrest, Milford, Forrest Hill, Castor Bay, Takapuna, Hauraki, Belmont, Devonport  areas are all unique and have very different issues.  

North Shore needs strong independent, representation.  The new city should  not burden us with astronomical rate rises to pay for the amalgamation.

 Jan will be a Councillor committed   to  North Shore  residents  and  with a vision  for Auckland .

Jan for  Local  Board Devonport/Takapuna 

Having been involved with Council and Community Boards for 17 years Jan O’Connor will bring commitment,  experience and independence to the new Board structure. 

She supports the undergrounding of power lines, upgrading playgrounds, beautifying every shopping centre, Takapuna being meter free, controlling boy racers, restoring the Takapuna Swimming Pool, clean beaches and protecting every reserve.

Pedestrian and cyclist safety is paramount.

If  Smales and Akoranga busway stations had frequent, connecting bus services, well promted they would be better utilized. The northern pedestrian access to Sunnynook Station is urgently needed.  

A mother of three Jan has served on various community committees and is a long time member of the Lakehouse and Pumphouse Trusts.

Jan has a track record of resolving issues with a common sense approach.

Vote for Jan twice. If elected to the new Auckland Council another Local Board member will replace her.  e-mail mx3@xtra.co.nz

Top 5 Issues

1. Waste Minimization This a serious future issue for Auckland as the population grows. Rubbish bags, if replaced by wheelie our rates by $200.00. Currently our waste management charges on our rates are $23.90 (for the street rubbish bins) However Manukau charges $300.00 & gives out bags. Auckland charges $185.00 & a large wheelie.NSCC was the first Council to introduce pay as you go bags & initially decreased the land fill by 46%.
   
   
2. Public transport. It will grow if it is economical, frequent and well marketed. Currently users are turned off by obscure timetables, confusing services and lack of bus lanes. An efficient transport system will decrease our worst nightmare - traffic congestion. Jan has made many submissions to the Auckland Regional Transport Authority to this effect.As a daily bus commuter she petitioned council while on the Community Board to extend the Esmonde Road bus lane. For many years she gave submissions to Auckland City Council to endeavour to get better facilities in the city for North Shore bus commuters. This is ongoing as she believes both the Birkenhead and Takapuna/Bayswater terminals in the CBD need upgrading.
   Ferry tickets prices should include the price of the connection bus. This would lead to less cars being parked all day at terminals and help decongest the connecting roads. The introduction of integrated ticketing is urgently needed.
   
3. A new harbour crossing should be urgently implemented. The harbour bridge clip-ons have only 20 years life in them before major upgrading . The time for talking is well and truly over. Jan believes that tunnels are the only option.
4. The cost of the restructuring of the new city has never been fully explained. Taking into account the creation of a single rating system, one district plan, a common set of by-laws, the merging of computer & information systems, billing, payroll and redundancies the cost could rise as much as $300m.
5. New Auckland rates will be struck in 2012.
   
   They must be transparent. North Shore ratepayers are not mushrooms to be kept in the dark
   
   The incoming Council must cuts its coat to suit the cloth. Ratepayers must not be looked upon as not milch cows.

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