Return to a community focus

We have a Council who hides behind process and fails to respond to the concerns expressed by the community they serve. The Council has increasingly become disconnected with their community. We need practical, able people with common sense elected to Council, people who will reflect the wishes of the community they serve.

I am standing for the Dunedin City Council for the Central Ward. I will be able to bring my experience serving the community to the Council.

Boards & Committees

I am currently serving on a number of Boards & Committees serving the community of Dunedin.

The Venerable Order of St John
I am an appointed member of the Dunedin Area Committee of St John. The Dunedin Area Committee is the local Board for the City of Dunedin. Its responsibilities are to ensure that all the services that St John provides are available and resourced in the City of Dunedin. I am please to be involved with the introduction of a second Ambulance Station based in Hillside road that will allow us to provide improved service to South Dunedin. The new station will open in October.

The Rotary Club of Dunedin
I am on the Board of the Rotary Club of Dunedin and on the District Communications Committee for District 9980 (Timaru South) The motto of Rotary is 'Service Above Self'. In Dunedin we have been recently involved with over fifty fundraising and community service projects.

Relay For Life
I am on the committee organising next years Relay For Life event here in Dunedin. This will be the fourth Relay For Life I have been involved in. This cause has special meaning to me as when I was a young man I had a cancerous tumour in my saliva gland removed. I spent a number of weeks with people fighting for their lives. Fortunately my tumour was benign.

Otago University Rugby Football Club
I am on the committee for the OURFC. I strongly support Rugby in our city and region. We had the good fortune to win both the Premier 1 and Premier 2 competitions this year against some very good sides that gave us tough competition.The first question people ask me when they find out this that I am involved with Rugby is what is my stance on the stadium? Like a majority of Dunedin rate payers I wanted to see a Carisbrook solution. Now the stadium is proceeding, my stance is that we must get behind the new stadium and ensure that it is a success and a showcase for the City.

Where I Stand on the Hot Issues

The Stadium
i) My Preferrence was for a refurbished Carisbrook Stadium payed for by the rugby fans that use the facilities.
ii) I was not in favour of the building of a new stadium because of my concern that the community could not afford it.
iii) I did not support the ratepayers levy through rates to fund it.
iv) I do not support any increase in rates to fund any shortfall that the Carisbrook Stadium Trust may have.
v) I will ensure that the new stadium is effectively used as a multi-venue stadium to reduce the risk to ratepayers.
vi) I will investigate alternative methods to reduce the rates levy going towards the stadium.

John Wilson Ocean Drive
i) I do not support the closure of John Wilson Ocean Drive.
    a) It prevents the use of the area by the elderly and infirm. This is in direct conflict with the councils own Older Persons Policy and Disability Strategy Policy.
    b) It reduces the use of the area to a small group of individuals rather than use by the wider community.
ii) I support a multi use vehicle/pedestrian/cyclist approach to allow enjoyment of the entire community.
iii) I support the erection of safety fence below the sight line at Lawyers Head to make the area safer and help prevent suicides.
iv) I would support the partial closure of John Wilson Ocean Drive for some part of the day during the weekend for the exclusive use of cyclists and pedestrians providing there is sufficent community support for this option.
v) If a decision is made to close John Wilson Ocean drive by the current committee, I will work to repeal that decision if elected.

Parking and Public Transport
i) I support making the first 30 minutes parking free in the central city.
ii) I Support the retention of free parking in South Dunedin and Port Chalmers. 
iii) I will work with the ORC to ensure that bus fares are reduced allowing buses to be better utilised in the City.
iv) I support the introduction of smaller buses for low demand routes.
v) I support a Council subsidised mini-bus service for those who are disabled.
vi) I support DCC ratepayer credit on the ORC Go Bus card. (Suggested by Port Chalmers Transition Town group)

South Dunedin
i) I support the formation of a South Dunedin Community Board and will work with the community to develop that area.

Basic Housing Standards
i) I support the development of a minimum standard for all rental and leasehold accommodation in Dunedin

Top 5 Issues

1. We need councillors who will bring back balance and common sense to our Council and a responsiveness to the community they serve.
2. We need a Council who has a primary focus of providing amenities that a city the size of Dunedin can reasonably expect. These Include:
   i) Clean, safe and free water
   ii) Reliable and safe sewage treatment
   iii) Safe and maintained parks and playgrounds
3. We need a Council who cares for those that are vulnerable in the community. We need a Council that looks after the elderly and values their input into the community.
4. We need a Council who will promote and develop new business in the region.
5. We need a Council who will engage the community in genuine consultation and develop flexible long term plans that have significant community input.

Personal Profile

I am 48 years of age and was born in Rangiora which is about 40 kms northeast of Christchurch. I am a qualified avionic engineer (Aircarft Electronics) having worked for Air New Zealand for six years. I have been self employed since 1997.

I own two companies in Dunedin:

• Integrated Digital Solutions Limited (IDS)
• gowww.biz Limited 

gowww.biz is known locally as Go Dunedin or Go Promotions. Through gowww.biz Limited I have been actively involved in promoting small businesses in Dunedin and not for profit organisations and charities including:

• The Cancer Society
• Malcam Trust
• Cargill Enterprises

I am a member of the Chamber of Commerce.