[The Rotorua Chamber of Commerce posed these questions to Council candidates. Here are my responses.]
What
is your position on the Eastern Arterial? What is your suggested way forward
with this project?
I
support the Eastern Arterial. Development, resulting in congestion and
escalating safety issues on Te Ngae Road has reached a point where a solution
must be found. The EA is a project the whole community must be
involved in and we must continue to talk to iwi to find a way forward.
What
is your opinion on how we can bring back life to Inner City Rotorua, the CBD?
The
CBD is disappearing , it has served us well in the past and now the time
has come to reinvent this space. How we shop, live, and spend our leisure
time has all changed and our inner city in order to survive must also change.
Everyone is facing this issue in one form or another, what direction we
choose to go will be what sets us apart as a destination and the place we call
home. Philanthropic investment is required as well as investment by the
council. We are all in this together and it is our combined drive, vision
and investment that is required. Please see the link below to give you
some idea of what is possible if you dare to dream.
What
suggestions would you make to better manage the overall debt level of Rotorua
District Council?
This council has recognised that we must reduce debt, a debt reduction policy
is now in place. A systematic review needs to be undertaken by the new
Chief Financial Officer. Local Government have not made understanding how
councils use debt very easy to understand. Therefore it is very difficult to
compare debt across regions and know what is well managed and what is of
concern. A better understanding of what debt fits where will help
the community during the annual plan process. Debt is cyclical, and
we are currently at the point of discomfort following a major financial
crisis.
What policies do you believe Rotorua
District Council should consider to encourage growth in business and employment
in the Rotorua region?
RDC should
continue to support the work of GROW ROTORUA and work collaboratively with the
wider BOP. Actively seek relocation of major companies using our favourable
housing market and work life integration as incentives. Continue to build
on the successful partnerships established with Scion,
Red Stag, Waiariki and others to rebrand our city as the best place to relocate
or establish a new business.
What do you consider is the number
one issue that will face the new Council during the next term of office? What
is your position on that issue?
The
community have asked for changes and therefore taking the pulse of the
community will be vital. A willingness to ask and really listen to what people want and what concerns them. Significant improvements
in transparency, greater inclusion and increased collaboration with the
residents. This will require some changes for Council and an update of
our communication strategy will be required to ensure the respect of the community.
Practically:
Essential new drainage site required for our waste water. Revitalising the
Inner City. Reducing our debt. Supporting rural landowners facing serious
economic restrictions due to nutrient reductions required. Believing in
our greatness as a city.
What
added value and contribution do you consider you would make to the Council if
elected?
I
have an open and enquiring mind, I am genuinely interested in people and I have
the best interests of the city at heart. I take my role seriously, I keep
myself informed on a wide range of issues and I am a pragmatist. Doing
what is right is important. I respect the opinion of others and am
open to learning from them. I keep abreast of international trends and I
believe this gives me a wider, more global perspective to bring to the council
table. I am a visionary and I see part of my role is to plant the seeds
of change, shift paradigms and at the very least
challenge entrenched beliefs.
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