- Fresh leadership that knows and reflects the community
- Celebrating our community culture and diversity
- Clean city environment and clean streets
- Taking a firm stance against water privitisation
- Fair and affordable rates and spending
No issues on file for Ida Faiumu-Isa'ako.
- CARING ABOUT COST - ENDING RATES INCREASES
Wellington residentiaL rates will rise by 5.6 percent in the coming year - way above inflation.
And an estimated additional $87 million will also have to be found to cover WCC's contribution to solving the local Leaky Buildings problem.
We need to spend more wisely and cut-back spending to deliver a zero increase on household rates next year.
As an economist with financial skills, I will safeguard your money, and the $6.6 billion of assets that WCC manages in your name. - CARING ABOUT COST - ENDING RATES REBALANCING
WCC has just re-balanced the rates burden away from the commercial sector to the household sector.
While householders face a 5.6% increase, the commercial sector will be left alone - it's increase will be ZERO.
Well, I will do my best to stop further re-balancing - especially to fund work on Leaky Buildings, which is a problem that has been caused by the commercial sector - CARING ABOUT COST - WISE SPENDING
Over the past decade, things have been good and lots of promises have been made about making Wellington vibrant and trendy. Time now for a 'cup of tea' on grand and costly plans.
As householders are now paying at a higher rate, more money should come back to local residential areas like the Southern Ward to fund local facilities and suburban shopping centre revitalization (e.g. Berhampore).
Also the Leaky Buildings issue illustrates the problems of depending too heavily on the private sector.
I will oppose the privatization of water as I believe that it would be impossible to ensure that productivity improves, prices moderate and deals do not go on behind the community's back. - CARING ABOUT COMMUNITY - SUPPORTING LOCAL SERVICES
The community is at the centre of my thinking.
I want to see more money flowing back to suburban residential areas to support local facilities like libraries, community centres, play grounds and sports fields.
I will press very hard for increases in the availability of swimming pools, and the provision of artificial turf for games like soccer, hockey and rugby.
We also need a Council that is more responsive to local community needs and less eager to assist retailers in the 'Golden Mile', restauranters and bar operators in Courteney Palace, and hoteliers in 'filling bedspaces'.
In the Southern Ward, we have a wonderful community that loves the local natural environment. We have shown how much we all care in our involvement in outsiders' plans to develop Te Raekaihou Point and the Te Kopahou / Red Rocks area.
I pledge to defend our wonderful coastline and marine heritage and work directly with local community groups to that end. - CARING ABOUT COMMUNITY - SUPPORTING LOCAL VOLUNTARY GROUPS AND SHARED ACTIVITIES
The Council has neglected the contribution of Voluntary and Not-for-Profit organizations to the health of the local economy - and their much bigger contribution to social harmony and enterprise.
The Wellington economy is roughly one tenth of the NZ economy - say worth $18 billion in wages, profits and rents. The contributions of the Voluntary and NFP sectors are probably worth at least 5% of the regional economy (nearly $1 billion per year).
We need to support this 'Third Sector' as well as the day-to-day activities of communities in such areas as sport, hobbies, fairs and festivals.
It is activities like the People's Market in Newtown and the Festivals in Island Bay and Newtown that bring us together to celebrate our diversity, common interests and joy in life.
- NO water meters, NO privatisation.
- Rates & debt control.
- Council accountability, transparency and consultation.
- A safe efficient transport network.
- Emergency plan for disasters.
Environmental policies must protect and plan for
future generations.
- Building Communities
Creating Sustainable Communities
Promoting and Supporting Neighborhood Events
and Activities - Develop Transport Link
Develop Transport Link - Light Rail/Cycle Ways
Better Public Transport and car parking at hospital - Sustainable Energy and Environment
Retention and Expansion of Green Spaces
Encourage Self-Sufficient Energy Resources - Public Ownership of Our Water
Fluoride Free Water for all.
- IMPROVED GOVERNANCE
* 0800 Action number- Council needs to know what you want fixed while you can see it!
* Community reference groups- community engagement is a key aim of government. Council should establish key advisory public groups of interest, perhaps of 300 participants or more.
* Parking ticket error compensation- if a ticket is issued in error then you will be paid the value of the ticket for wasting your time!
* Broadcast council meetings- This will allow to hear and see what is going on and who is doing what. If Councillors are away they will be able to as well and join meetings remotely.
* Scrap Disputes Resolution office- this has become the rubbish bin of complaints services. It needs to be replaced with an investigation service staffed with legally trained people.
* Control of work programme- Councillors are not being allowed to focus on policy development. Rather than do that they are being tied-up with petty administration matters.
* Simplified Planning- Planning needs to be simplified. According to Associate Minister of Local Government Carter 10 year plans must become far more concise.
* Better over-sight of senior management including the C.E.O. Independent, impartial assessment of performance should replace the in-house, back slapping approach.
* Water waste amnesty- Council should provide a free plumber to fix water leaks that might otherwise cost Council even more money!
* Election issue development- Issues that are raised by all candidates during an election should be addressed by any new council.
- BETTER OPERATIONAL SERVICES
* Disability access to web site- The Council web-site needs to be accessible as possible and meet disability functionality requirements.
* Water costing- Meters may be a good idea if they provide a more equitable result for all users.
* Transport- of this is a hot item. Better public transport will help a great deal and what is needed is something that is convenient as using a car. An on-call public transport system could be used which would perhaps double the use of public transport over-night and thus reduce driving congestion.
* Effective spending- Cr Pennent commented at a 25 August council meeting that spending appears to be under budget! It might look good on the books however the true indicator of performance is the state of the place.
* Infrastructure Quality- it’s far too low! Many foot paths and roads are in a dreadful state and these are core services not luxuries.
* Administration management effectiveness- sometimes lacking! Where it is obvious that this cannot be provided in-house then out-sourcing management services to specialists might be needed. Operation of council swimming pools is of particular note.
- INCREASED COMMUNITY SAFETY
* Road splitting- A number of city streets are actually two separate roads yet both have the same name. This is highly confusing and quite unacceptable to keeping things functional.
* Walkway covers and verandas- these are missing in several parts of the city and need to be provided by property owners if not Council.
* Tsunami warning system- Although having people running about providing warnings might work to some extent an automated system would be much better and faster.
* Emergency preparedness – there will be few, if any transport options and major local resource banks will be the only way to keep people going during a major emergency.
- IMPROVED GOVERNANCE ENFORCEMENT
* J-Walking enforcement- It is still illegal to J-walk in Wellington and enforcing this would make the city safer and provide the council with lots of income!
* Litter dumping- With a neighbour dumping an entire kitchen stove on the footpath it came to light that prosecutions for this offence had not been made for some time. Time to get stuck into the matter!
* Serious Complaints- These are generally dealt with by the council's 'Disputes Resolution Office' which is under resourced yet answers directly to the C.E.O. whom is supposed to act on its recommendations. This needs to be replaced with a public office of investigation staffed with qualified lawyers. Where a matter is complex funding should be provided so that the complaint can be adequately provided.
- BETTER DEVELOPMENT VISION
* E-commerce Virtual Wellington- Development of a virtual Wellington is needed to create virtual ecommerce hub for all retail businesses to use in some way or other. A business model can be used that makes the idea cost effective for all businesses with a contracted buy-out plan for council with each business.
* A Shopping Mall- Wellington lacks this classic retail approach and it might be possible to convert one or many C.B.D. streets into a mall. This might work in a suburban area such as Kilbirnie which needs a name change at any rate!
* Gondola and luge experience- in any election there seems to be the big treat project and mine is the provision of a gondola and luge ride facility. Very informal talks have been held that make the idea look possible as a treat!
* Wide-view long-term projects- To date change has been done by tinkering and not with any broad-brush plan. Planning pays off and needs to start now!
- Public Consultation
My major concern is that Wellingtonians are disengaging from the Council.
We are wasting our greatest resource... you. Council should be made up of people who listen and act in accordance with your wishes.
I will not support faux competitions or ‘Claytons’ consultation. - Infrastructure
Looking after the basics is the very reason the Council exists at all. Managing water (fresh, waste and storm), roads, parks/playgrounds, libraries, public toilets, promoting the city, supporting business, etc. must be where the Council directs the bulk of its attention and resource. - Council spending
I am concerned at Wellington's debt levels. I recognise that debt is a part of managing the city but I will work to keep it at manageable levels.
I applaud the Council's work in beautifying parks but question whether all of this spending should be given priority over water/waste, roads and other infrastructure.
- Why would you build a new deck when your house needs re-piling? - Traffic
The lack of congestion during school holidays shows this is the area we need to focus on to reduce peak hour traffic. We need to engage with schools, pupils, parents and staff to find more efficient ways to get students and staff to and from school.
This needs to be done in conjunction with improving public transport and cycleways. - Decisions made in camera
Council often cites commercial sensitivity when questioned about how it spends rate-payer money and how it reaches certain decisions. Of course there are times when this is a valid reason for keeping information out of the public arena but it should be the exception rather than the rule.
No issues on file for Bernard O'Shaughnessy.
- COMMUNITY
Parking - All car & parking services in public hands
Community Health Levy - to go directly to not-for-profit organisations
Alcohol billboard advertising - Abolition of all alcohol billboard advertising
Making Walk wise Relevant: Maori Wardens – To appoint and resource the Maori Wardens to train and assist Wellington’s Walk wise “City Safety Officers”
Restorative justice plan: as an alternative to police charges for offensive behaviour in public.
In recognition of local heroes
A subsidy to support discounts at public libraries, cinemas, live shows etc for volunteers, caregivers, paramedics, fire-fighters, hospital domestics & healthcare assistants
Community Training & Education - Advocate strongly for WCC resourced options for people of all ages
Small democracy evolution
I will advocate for smaller representative groups like residents coalitions and not-for-profit organisations having meaningful input into the running of Wellington. - DISABLED FOLKS & SENIOR FOLKS
24/7 low-cost accessible mobility transport service
More accessible, properly located parking for disabled people
Promotion and subsidy support for businesses that put into place accessible facilities
Focus on working alongside support advocates and groups in lobbying government - BUSINESS - SOUTHERN WARD & CBD
Business/community working together to improve our economy
Subsidy for small business funded by a yearly levy
WCC awards and promotion for restaurants, bars, clubs that have innovative, Wellington-friendly service standards - WATER
Not for user-pays water but I am for saving water and I will work with council members, groups and individuals on sensible alternatives to encourage the respectful management of water
WCC “Pure & Free” fill your own bottled water
Advocate for filtered pure drinking water units (Pure & Free) at key locations throughout Wellington city and surrounds
- INFRASTRUCURE
Transport, parks, reserves, recreation & sports fields, roading and footpaths
High quality, well funded, sensible, well resourced and low-cost or free services for friends, families and communities to enjoy
- A people friendly Council- sharing the benefits, accountable and open. A city that is affordable with a better deal for homeowners and those who rent.
- No extra charge for water and no compulsory water meters for home owners. Bring water management back into Council.
- Protect our built and natural heritage.
- No more buildings on the waterfront. Bring the waterfront management back into Council.
- More pedestrian only areas and better cycle ways and bicycle stands. More motorcycle parks. Parking enforcement brought back into Council.
