Act Party flip-flop on Transmission Gully

Act has totally flip-flopped on Transmission Gully with its Wellington Central candidate now saying the party is opposed to it.

This now makes a vote for UnitedFuture even more vital for any Wellingtonian wanting to make sure the road goes ahead.

We have had communication from appalled Act members today saying they are switching parties on this issue, it is that fundamental to Wellington’s long term transport viability.

Act candidate Stephen Whittington today described Transmission Gully as a waste of money. As recently as September Act was in full support of the alternative access route in and out of Wellington.

 UnitedFuture says Transmission Gully is absolutely vital to Wellington, and through pushing it, and having made it a confidence and supply agreement issue with the last two governments, we now have it on the point of being delivered.

The current Government rightly designated it a Road of National Significance and construction is now likely to begin by late 2015.

Basically, with UnitedFuture backing a John Key-leg government, it will happen. Act are now telling us they will oppose it.

Wellington voters now know that a vote for Act is a vote for decades of increasing commuter log-jams in the capital, and a short-sighted crippling of the Wellington region.

Flexi-Super proving a winner in Ohariu

I am getting very positive feedback on UnitedFuture’s Flexi-Super policy while campaigning in Ohariu.

I have been getting a very positive overall response from the community, but am particularly taken by how interested people were in the Flexi-Super.

The policy would allow people to take superannuation anywhere from 60 at a reduced amount and progressively enhanced each through to 70 if people waited longer.

 I have been delighted with the response generally, but it is the sheer number who have come up to me and really wanted to know more about the Flexi-Super policy that has surprised me.

I think giving people choice and control over how they live their later years is really striking a chord.

When they see the potential for a sustainable Super scheme that allows them to live the way they want, they are impressed.

I think the idea has real potential for take-up, given the open response it has received from other parties, including the Maori Party and Act in the recent small party’ leaders’ debate.

A lot of people clearly like this idea – and it is completely achievable.

Churton Park development

Just by chance, I was having lunch in Johnsonville today and the owners of the soon-to-open New World supermarket in Churton Park, walked up and introduced themselves.

It reminded me that I had shot a podcast at the site early last month, which I had not posted yet. I have posted it now, but please understand that the construction is a lot further along now.

Doors open in a few short weeks. 130 jobs have been created by this development which is great for the Ohariu electorate.

A supermarket and associated smaller stores will transform Churton Park and it is something the locals have been looking forward to it.

September/October

Sorry, I am posting this update a little bit late. I have been very busy!!

Electorate engagements have been too many to mention, but here are a few off the top of my head....

• held electorate clinics in Johnsonville, Maungaraki, Newlands, and Tawa.
• attended joint candidates meetings in Korokoro; with the Wellington Post Polio Group; the Wellington Rainbow Coalition;  Onslow College students; Lower Hutt Greypower;  and TVNZ7's Backbenches Programme.  
• attended the unveiling of Paparangi Kindergarten's new murals.
• visited Kau Kau Ranger Scouts Unit; and the over 60s Lunch Group at St Christopher's Church, Tawa.
• adjudicated the inaugural Newlands College/Onslow College Lions Debate.
• attended fairs at Malvina Major Village; St John's Church, Johnsonville; Rewa Rewa School; and, St Benedict's School, Khandallah.
• attended Newlands Intermediate School's end-of-term celebrations evening; Maungaraki School's annual production; Tawa's Arts and Craft Exhibition; and Newlands community Centre's Pot Luck Luncheon.
• Attended the annual general meeting of the Ngaio Progressive Association; and the first meeting of the Johnsonville RSA Trust.

Busy, busy, busy - especially with the election coming up!!

Great to see you all out and about in the community. To all the volunteers and organisers, parents and grandparents, participants and attendees, sausage-sizzlers and raffle ticketers............a big THANK YOU!!

Earthquake strengthening should not burden ratepayers

I reject suggestions the Wellington City Council should burden Wellington ratepayers with the cost of earthquake strengthening privately-owned buildings.

 That would be both incredibly short-sighted and blatantly unfair on ratepayers already struggling to make ends meet.

Wellington is already an expensive city to buy a home, raise a family or run a small business in, the last thing ratepayers need is to be squeezed more in this way.

 As we know a large number of the city’s commercial and public buildings require significant strengthening work, in fact that is something that I have been on the Council’s case about for a long time. However, simply lumping the cost on ratepayers because commercial property owners can’t afford to have the work done is not a fair and just solution.

 I believe the Council needs to think outside the square and be open to innovative and creative solutions to this problem.

 The possibility of public private partnerships should be fully explored as well as assistance programmes that specifically help property owners meet the cost of seismic strengthening through increasing revenue streams and realising the financial potential of their buildings.

 I am aware of one private sector scheme that will cost the Council very little to implement and will assist commercial property owners to collaborate with engineering experts and property managers to fund their own seismic strengthening projects.

 The proposal is innovative and best of all it shields Wellington ratepayers from having to pick up the tab.

 Wellington is an innovative and creative city. I hope the Council will approach this issue with a little more creativity and not just bill the ratepayers.