Electing 1 Board Member
- Have we lost our local representation?
In fact we have probably got better opportunities for pursuing our cause than we had before. Under the old scheme our elected councillors were not only there to assist us to get what we wanted, they were also there to charge us for it - they set the rates and all the other regulatory rules and conditions.
Now, the new Auckland Council will have all these regulatory responsibilities. Our new local board members working for us in our area will be taking our issues to the meeting room and determining the strategy for lobbying the Auckland Council.
The people we need to elect are clear strategic thinkers who can take issues and rationally progress them through the corridors of power. - We need vision and we need experience
The new local board needs to be visionary, it must be focussed on what's good for the people of Rodney and it needs to be absolutely accountable.
It’s all about balance – with innovative, sustainable, commonsense progress – and empowering the people of our Ward. We need our new local board to be strategic and proactive. We need to be down in Auckland stating and restating our case - pragmatically and enthusiastically.
What we need from our board membersI is
- Commonsense & stability
- Ensuring high quality services for ratepayers
- Getting things done
- Finding workable solutions to problems
- Accountability and customer focus
- Skilled listeners focused on important issues
- Treating people with dignity & respect
- Ready to press for real change where it is needed
I bring enormous experience and a visionary approach with a pragmatic understanding of how local government works. - Our rural planning strategy
A key issue is the pressure for development. We have a huge landmass, the largest of any local authority in the country – but we have less than 1% of that landmass built on, and our fellow citizens to the south can see this.
We have enormous pressure on our southern boundaries. These pressures are coming from the over-burdened town planning in our neighbouring territories. Auckland is growing, and eating the landscape. We can’t shut our doors and pretend it’s their problem. We need to cope. We need to ensure that Auckland Council has a plan to manage development rather than have it thrust upon us.
Rodney District Council has developed a draft rural strategy document to flag our desires and expectations to inform the new Auckland Council.
This draft strategy is not the last word on rural planning for Rodney however. The new local board needs to be on to this document from Day One. It needs to work with the new planners and ensure that it gets out into the community for proper review and consultation. - We need employment, especially in our townships. The growth in our district brings with it the need to be able to find emplyment, particularly for our youth as they come through the education system.
Our schools are doing a great job and need support to raise student achievement further, and with a focus on opportunities for employment. - It's a whole new learning curve
Much of our current structure is being swept away with the new Auckland reforms. While we will lose an enormous amount of corporate memory, this is a great time to sweep out the old cobwebs and get underway planning for Rodney's future.
The areas that will need addressing are:
- Rural strategy and environment
- Infrastructure development
- Business growth (jobs)
- Services
- Involving people – our new democracy
- Safety and security of our families
- The intergration of so many diverse interest groups and communities into a single voice. Establishing the management and protocol of Local Boards and Wards into a comprehensive single unit addressing the Long Term Council Community Plan ( LTCCP ) and wishes of its people .
Lobbying for Abany / Dairy Flat at a Council level and National level will become 'par 'for the job or role .That citywide 'ticket' voting does not become the dominant force on Auckland's Council.
We have no need for bureaucracy or layers of local government , just a simple flat structure , responsive and efficient and where rates are pegged to CPI . Auckland now has critical mass , an economy of scale and a mandate to reduce its delivery costs . That is our challenge . - Albany and parts of Rodney provide the natural expansion course northwards of an ever expanding Auckland . The Dairy Flat Coatesville subdivision is the natural conduit linking Orewa to Auckland . It also provides a wonderful opportunity to 'green-belt' large tracts of rural land for perpetuity , recreation and that the lessons of the past can be measured out in a comprehensive Plan protecting Auckland's northern reaches for the next generation of young people .
Strategic and tactical planning is needed . Infrastructure established to meet the needs of a commuting public , the northern Park n Ride to Orewa and western Ring Highway completed and the historic rail corridors revisited. Roading heirachy revisited together with other essential infrastructure needs of Sewerage and Water reticulation . - A second Harbour crossing is a significant strategic project on its own and is of national importance . Its a biggy !
Too much reliance on one main arterial highway (SH1) through Auckand . If this failed it could have devasting affect to business and commerce where a third of NZ's population is resides . - Albany through to Dairyflat / Coatesville are inseparately connected . I believe you cannot look at one without the other . They cannot be viewed in isolation .Forward linkage is the key to avoid duplication of services and infrastructure .
70% of the working population Dairyflat / Coatesville works in the City . The statistics are not too disimilair to Albany / West harbour . This catchment provides discretionary income to the social ammenities of Albany , the shopping facilities of Westfield , a new Library and shortly a new Swimming pool / Aquatic centre adjacent to North Harbour stadium . That the residents of Albany ,West harbour , Coatesville and Dairyflat are convientently positioned to capture these advantages . - I am a local businessman with friends, family and clients in Albany ,West Harbour and Coatesville . That it remains the pre-eminent city in NZ , that it is safe for our youngsters and elderly alike .
Having said this the way forward is to listen to everyone, to all users and stakeholders , no one should be exempt that we are able to work together to fashion the interests of rural dwellers and coastal inhabitants with metropolitan Auckland . That the 'supercity ' does not loose its identity or 'heart' and that it listens to its citizens.
That existing documents which address the northen urban limit and Rodneys Rural strategy Plan and the ideals and views of its people are not lost by indiscriminate development or policy that is detrimental to our environment .
- Super City... Super Collaboration
Without a doubt, the first and main priority is to make it work!
This is a huge change in the way things were done in the past. Out with the old and bring on the new! All the previous grudges between ARC and other councils are over. We need a new relationship from the true grass roots Rodney local board through our Ward Councillor and right to the Auckland Council. To collaborate with the governing body, with the understanding that the governing body and local boards need to work together for the collective good of all Auckland. If we want to have more delegated powers we need to prove our community speaks volumes! - Community Voice
Public consultation starts from all the stakeholders and shareholders – i.e. all of us! Views from of all cultures, business associations, elderly, workers, families, health impaired and youth must be given consideration. - Economic Growth
Rodney needs to provide more local jobs and more opportunities to work closer to home which would result in having more valued time with our families and is better for road congestion. Our unique lifestyle supports home based business, self employment and tourism, we need to look at best practice and promote local business. Obviously affordable, fast broadband is a must have in every home. - Regulatory Activities
I want local boards to be involved in resource management hearings for their areas. Local boards should be involved because they have local knowledge and are therefore best placed to understand the impact. - Accountability
Our board must and will be transparent and accountable to the community and ratepayers with a focus on timely decisions and prudent budget management.
