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Shaw For Mayor
Dreaming is good, but the vision must be practical.
Make a council committee responsible for economic development. Have the business community appoint half the members of that committee. Delegate responsibilities to that committee. Make them responsible for the budget items that relate to economic development. Given them a special role in the development of the District Plan for the commercial zones.
A total review of the District Plan to make it householder friendly. We must look after the people who live in our city. This work would cost about $600,000! Policy work is expensive! But do it once, do it right. Council has some money in its current budget for such work but I want the probject to be comprehensive and with a far better focus.
Sooner or later Coucil is going to have to do something about the quality of our town centre. The area from the railway to the Plaza and the Canopies needs attention. We have a strategy document, but it is full of abstract nouns. I want to bring the commercial players in that area together and hammer out a plan for its vitalisation. A town monument and performance centre could be a part of this work. It is vital that Council takes the lead role in this for the many commercial operators cannot be expected to do the town planning work needed.
Council's role in growth and prosperity is very special. It is not the handing out of large numbers of small grants and the running of small wasteful schemes. It is the provision of infrastructure that works.
If we had a direct link road from Porirua to the Hutt we would open up all sorts of opportunities for our people. It would also be fantastic for tourism because it would be a loop from Wellington to the Hutt to Porirua with a panoramic view of the region.
It will take just 12 minutes to drive from the middle of the town centre in the Hutt to the middle of the Porirua business district when this road is built! It is pretty much a straight line, but it goes up and over a mighty hill. The cost benefit ratio shows it is the most viable roading project in our area. It would make money as a toll road.
Council should focus its attention on getting this road built by Transit NZ.
Much more money needs to be directed towards the protection and development of our green environment. This is a good investment in the long run. We must make the Porirua Harbour and the Pauatahanui Inlet healthy and admired. We must urge the regional council to develop the 3 regional parks we have in our region - Belmont, Whitireia, and Battle Hill. We must look at treating road run off. We must plan more trees - the minor plantings scheme needs to be launched (Council to provide 1000 trees each year to be planted on sites identifed by residents as being suitable).
Robert's policy for Porirua City >
How to be a councillor (published article) >
The mayor distributes your rates>
