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Shaw For Mayor
POLICY
3 Vital Steps to a Better City:
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Make the council function: set the councillors to work, involve people, fix the budget, and lower rates.
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Agree on our vision for the city centre, villages, green belts, and commercial areas. Establish commitment.
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Build a credible City with facilities, confidence, opportunities, moderate rates, and a human heart.
Transport/Roading
We must fight for Transmission Gully and money to address the urgent problems in Porirua City. I represent Porirua on the Regional Land Transport Committee. Our region would be better served by a single transport authority. We must keep the system in “mode balance” to advance public transport.
The Environment
Build back the bush and wetlands! Porirua is well vested in green spaces, but we must spend more on development. I was a strong advocate for Whitireia Park becoming a regional park. Spend more on monitoring water and air quality and be tough on polluters. We have good plans to protect the Porirua/Pauatahanui harbour and must resource them.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is Council’s core business. Porirua is in a fortunate position but still must invest more underground. The decision to scrap suburban recycle stations must be reversed and our horrendously expensive approach to rubbish collection must be addressed.
Law and order
We need someone to keep order round the council table, and that is why I am standing for Mayor! Porirua City is a remarkably safe place and that news needs to be spread. The Council (with private businesses) should put security cameras throughout the city. We have to prepare for outsiders!
Rates and council spending
Porirua’s rates must come down! We are seriously out-of-step with other places and Council’s credibility is now at stake. Our rates force elderly people out of our City, and disadvantage businesses. I have never voted for a rate increase on the Porirua Council although I did on the Regional Council. Rate reduction targets must be put into the chief executive’s annual performance agreement.
Business and the economy
We need a mayor who is credible with the business community and assertive. I propose a Council Committee on economic development with members from Business Porirua. This committee would have delegated responsibility for a budget and certain decisions in the commercial zones of the city. (This is an example of “power sharing”).
Youth issues
We must train youth in democratic processes – both decision-making and political skills. The exercise of democracy is a major justification for local government. Porirua should co-opt young people onto Council committees and pay them fees. Youth Councils are inauthentic. We need the idealism of youth and we must teach them. (This is an example of “power sharing”).
Leadership
As Field Marshall Montgomery said leadership involves intellect, concern about people, and the sense to only move when you have overwhelming odds on your side. This approach works in war, business, and local government. It is the mayor’s job to put the councillors to work and to ensure their skills are used. We must bring community members onto Council committees to widen our skill/knowledge base – and to move beyond mere consultation to “power sharing”.
Tourism
Build the link road between Porirua and Hutt cities! Thus, provide a tourist loop with a mandatory view of the Wellington region. Re-build the historic wooden hotel at Pautahanui. Develop Belmont and Whitireia regional parks. Bid for the Marine Centre. Establish an annual festival to celebrate Te Rauparaha’s necklace of bonfires. It’s time our Council did something!
Wellington waterfront development
As a member of the Carter Observatory Board I support the current plan for the waterfront including the purpose built “astronomy center”. The planetarium and educational facilities fit well with the overall concept for the waterfront which is that the public space is useable on sunny and wet days. We have the ability to capture tourist dollars and provide something important for our region.
Porirua City’s Town Centre
The plan for our town centre is abstract. We need a proper plan with projects, costs, and dates. If Porirua is to be a modern city it must have a significant commercial centre. The key is to integrate the station, the Plaza and the canopies areas; and to include some major venues.
How to be a councillor (published article) >
The mayor distributes your rates>
