MY ELECTION PROMISES FROM 2016 STILL STAND
WE MUST BEAT THE TRAFFIC BEFORE IT BEATS US!
Probably the greatest single threat to our city’s prosperous future will be the failure to address the growing traffic congestion across our transport network.
Despite this, there seems to be almost no provision for the cost of dealing with this in the current Long Term Plan. (10 YRS)
When I was an MP in 2005 I worked with the Minister of Transport to obtain $150 mil in funding as a special grant for our road network. I am the only candidate with a track record of working effectively with Central Government and Regional Council to ensure we continue investment in all our vital infrastructure, especially our roads at this time, to avoid the clogged highways many have moved here to escape.
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Options like Park and Ride, off road cycle-ways and future light rail need to be considered as part of the answer but a good road network around and through the city is vital.
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CLICK HERE TO READ MORE DETAILS ABOUT OUR ROADS AND MY PROPOSALS.
RELEASE MORE LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT AND MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE
Smart Growth and the three partner Councils must continue to open up more residential land to keep ahead of demand and to maintain as much flexibility in planning rules as possible.
Seeing the housing affordability index improve over the next 10 years for families to own their homes is a must.
LESS BUREAUCRACY = LESS WASTED TIME AND RESOURCES
Bureaucracy, if left unchecked, will naturally grow and become more costly and less efficient. Because Council has a monopoly on many of the services it provides, it can be guilty of overcharging.
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Therefore Councilors need to be vigilant in their oversight of the organization.
I share the growing concerns expressed by many about the endless forms to fill out and rules and regulations being forced upon us. We need to be working hard to minimize how all this is implemented at our local level so that common sense becomes common again.
MORE DEMOCRACY. WE NEED MORE TRANSPARENCY AND REPRESENTATION
I would pursue improvements to our democracy by initiating regular surveys sent out with rates and water bills to better understand your opinion to guide Council’s decision making on our city’s future.
I also believe that in a good democracy everyone needs to know how Councilors vote. For most of us life is busy and we do not have the time to wade through the Council website to find the minutes of meetings etc.
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Council needs to take the initiative by regularly publishing the details of how elected members vote at least on the major issues being dealt with.
Too often I have seen the hypocritical situation where elected members turn up for photo ops at the opening of some new popular civic project, like the Hairy Maclary statues on the waterfront that I pushed through, or the Pilot Bay boardwalk at the Mount I supported, when they actually voted against the project.
CIVIC HEART REVITALISATION
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I believe Council must prioritize new civic amenities and an international hotel that would contribute to the growth of our economy. The revitalization of the City Centre can only be achieved with more people visiting, working and living within the CBD to bring life and vibrancy to its heart.
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CLICK HERE TO READ MY ABRIDGED ORAL SUBMISSION TO COUNCIL
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CLICK HERE TO READ MY FULL WRITTEN SUBMISSION TO COUNCIL 2016