Electing 1 Councillor
- 1. Auckland Transport
The most important immediate goal for the new council is to complete the already approved Auckland (e.g. Waterview connection) public transport projects - both rail and motorway projects. Then the priorities should be modern electric trains and integrated ticketing, followed by the downtown underground train loop. We don’t urgently need a rail line to the Auckland airport because airport visitor numbers are not anywhere near sufficient to justify the massive investment, but we do need a second harbour bridge/tunnel (with rail capacity) within a decade. Needless to say it is imperative we convert Aucklanders once and for all to mass public transport. People also want to exercise more today and it is our public duty to provide high quality footpaths and cycle ways across all wards of Auckland so everyone can be more mobile if we want. - 2. Auckland Strategic Assets
Auckland’s strategic assets are our family jewels and must be kept in public ownership - to be treasured and retained so future generations can benefit from them also. Aucklanders should always own 100% of our water infrastructure assets, and the cornerstone investments in Ports of Auckland, Auckland Airport and other public infrastructure assets should be enhanced. The council-controlled organisations (CCOs) are powerful beasts that will require very careful monitoring and strict control. It is crucial that the Council sets tightly defined strategies for each CCO and then ensures they deliver on that agreed strategy. - 3. Avondale Racecourse
The number one local issue! This irreplaceable, historic (Avondale Racing Club formed 1890), large green space must become Avondale’s new public park. The rugby, soccer and cricket fields would form the core of the park in which the long promised ward swimming complex would also be located. Needless to say the successful, colourful, vibrant Avondale Sunday Market must be retained. This Avondale park would then be one end of a new “Whau recreational quarter” with a restored Whau river linking it to New Lynn’s Olympic Park. Saving the sports fields and Sunday Market and getting the long promised swimming complex in a new Avondale public park is what we want. We definitely don’t want another uninspiring housing development eating up this irreplaceable green space. - 4. Our Town Centres
I have played an important role in Waitakere City and central Government transforming the New Lynn township and transport hub into a modern, prosperous thriving town centre. The $400 million investment in the rail trench, the ultra-modern train station, the road alterations, and Olympic Park’s redevelopment is delivering prosperity and a bright economic future for New Lynn. Increased apartment living is set to significantly increase the population and help drive the local New Lynn economy further. In contrast the Avondale township is tired and the Racecourse virtually abandoned. There is no town park, the swimming complex has yet again been shelved with the money being spent in the eastern suburbs and even the Racecourse sports fields are threatened with commercial and housing developments. It is fair enough to say Citizens and Ratepayers and successive Auckland councils have virtually ignored Avondale and New Windsor. We want to bring the same energy, excitement and vision that we have shown in New Lynn, to the Avondale town centre. - 5. Our Environment
I am proud of being a key sponsor of the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Act thereby ensuring the Ranges are now protected forever. Ark in the Park is a brilliant project eliminating predators in the bush and bringing endangered birds back to their old home in the Ranges. Our main environmental challenge in our Whau ward is cleaning up the degraded Whau waterways. Adoption of Waitakere’s award winning Project Twin Streams system would restore the river and banks into beautiful places for people to access and enjoy. One of the Whau Local Board’s first tasks must be to list and protect all trees worthy of protection - all trees like the threatened Rosebank Road oak and pohutakawa must be saved for future generations.
- Transport:Public Transport must be cheaper and faster for it to be attractive to users,it must have technology such as WIFI to add value to the service and experience,an intergrated ticketing service must be implemented, improvements to shelters of train stations to protect users from the elements. A western link and CBD link to the airport. Overhauling of the bus network an routes in line with Aucklanders habits and needs focusing on the flash points. Safer cycle ways to increase patronage,utilise our water and harbours to ferry people from point to point.
- Law and Order:Kirwan will liaise with the police, businesses and the community to make ALL streets not just main streets safer and reduce the crime on our streets. Explore different approaches to the graffiti problem, a problem costing the regions Councils 5.5million, money that could be spent on commuinity based projects, health city objectives but to name a few.
- Abolish Bureaucracy surrounding consents. It shouldn't cost $1000 for a spa pool consent,but currently does! it's no wonder people dodn't bother getting them. Demolition consents for removing items from your property, money that could be better spent on improving your properties. Encourage better urban design and future planning for better land use and sustainable living.
- Rejuvenate and revamp the way we consult the community and make it easier for you to have your say
◦eg monthly referenda utlising technology, online polls on the website that the council is accountable to.
- Keep my electorate well informed and engaged in the government decision making process.
Make myself easily accessible, available, approachable and visible to the people of my region and community.
"As a youngster I was terrified to approach a government official and found them difficult to get a hold of." - I intend to change that if elected to office (speaking from experience)
How do I intend to achieve this? Live locally in the electorate and be actively involved with the people in the region and local communities. Regularly visit Church and Community Leaders, random visits to the local communities and reach out to the people in need. - Propose affordable property rates for all hard working families.
"As a youngster I witnessed my parents struggle to pay property rates and make ends meet." - I intend to change that if elected to office (speaking from experience)
How do I intend to achieve this? Propose a threshold for the families to pay rates based on their income. This will ensure that families only pay what they can afford. - Propose solutions for regional and community issues (namely housing, leaky houses, home insulation, public transportation, roads, employment and industrial relations, rubbish, child care, elderly care, health care, social services... and the list is not exhaustive)
"I have three young children and an elderly Mother so I need to ensure that they get the proper care and help that they deserve.
How do I intend to achieve this? Housing - offer low, medium, and high cost housing categories for accessibility to adequate, affordable and quality shelter with the incentive to own property.
Leaky Houses - implement adequate compensation for leaky houses.
Home Insulation - expand the sustainable home insulation programmes to help more people stay warm and well.
Transportation - better public transportation access via train and buses from home to work, airport and other destinations.
Roads - safer and faster road works to avoid traffic congestion.
Employment and Industrial Relations - advocate for safer environments and better working conditions for employees. Offer union for taxi drivers and better protection for bus drivers.
Rubbish - offer larger rubbish bins and bags for households upon request and re-introduce rubbish/waste day collection.
Daycare - increase free daycare center hours for pre-school children to assist families.
Health - offer better health, dental and vision care for all, including children and pensioners. Change insurance and lower premiums, so that insurance companies pay for medical care upfront instead of patients paying out of pocket first and getting reimbursed later. - Promote tourism and economic stability in our region and communities for a better and cleaner Cosmopolitan Supercity Auckland.
How do I intend to achieve this? Promote cultural diversity through city fairs and festivals to attract tourism and foreign investment. I'm open to celebrating our heritage and cultural diversity in the new Whau Ward. Ensuring that people from Avondale, Rosebank, Blockhouse Bay, New Windsor, Green Bay, New Lynn, Titirangi, Kelston and Glendene all get along. Community integration is necessary for a stronger Whau and to bridge the gap between division and segregation. - Find solutions for unemployment, keep our region and community safe, help and promote the development of local small businesses, find resolutions for better immigration control.
How do I intend to achieve this? Employment - educating our communities about creating economic opportunity and prosperity, offer job training, more apprenticeships, practical training, higher and continuing education as an alternative to unemployment.
Crime - educating our local communities about crime prevention, retribution and early family intervention.
Local Small Businesses - collaborating and consulting with our Community Organisations for their support and assistance for the development of local small businesses to thrive financially and economically.
Immigration - expand eligibility categories, reduce fees and waiting periods.
"I intend to offer translation and interpretation services for the non english speaking public in our region and communities to battle these issues."
- Rates - Keeping rates at an affordable level for all Aucklanders.
- The Supercity - Ensuring the new “Supercity” really works for us and that we realise the potential efficiencies, improvements and growth as a region.
- Transport – Ensuring we have efficient and effective roads, rail, buses and cycleways. The roading network is not a never-ending mouth to feed – we will have to change our basic understanding of how we get around our region.
- Law and Order and Community Safety - As previous Chair of the Law and Order Committee I was able to initiate developments such as alcohol bans in public places, CCTV security and enchanced graffiti removal programmes. It is vital that these continue across the region and that we continue to find solutions for community "hot spots".
- Community Initiatives and Facilities – I am committed to the development of the Whau ward. I will work towards:
• Building a “learn to swim” pool in partnership with Avondale Primary;
• Free swimming lessons for local pre-schoolers
• Re-development of the Avondale Racecourse;
• High quality public space amenities around New Lynn transport hub;
• Proper community engagement on large scale transport developments, such as the completion of SH20
