- What do you consider to be the biggest opportunities and threats facing Kapiti over the next five to ten years?
Biggest opportunities for Kapiti are the people who live here and our unique natural environment nestled between the mighty Tararuas and Kapiti Island. Opportunities exist to develop targeted tourism that utilises our unique environment.
The biggest threats to Kapiti will be from expensive and time consuming compliance costs, and unnecessary red-tape for both businesses and residents.
- Economic growth has benefits for everyone living in the district. Kapiti needs a sound economic development strategy. How would you go about ensuring the strategy is developed and implemented and who should be involved?
The economic development arm of Kapiti Coast District Council has failed. I don’t see a role for economic development by Council, rather economic development can be facilitated by less rules/regulation, lower compliance costs, less red tape and the dropping of the recently introduced targeted business rate for commercial premises.
- Will Kapiti have the infrastructure needed to support projected population growth? If not, what are the key priorities for infrastructure development?
Overall, Kapiti is well placed for future infrastructure, but suffers from poor historic planning decisions; especially the granting of consents for houses in the storm surge zone near the beach, and the filling in and developing of swampland, which used to provide a buffer against flooding.
- Council has a goal of being “Open for Business”. What does this term mean to you and what can Council do to ensure it achieves this goal?
Open for business is about less rules/regulation, lower compliance costs and less red tape. I will fight ensure there are less costs, fewer regulations and fairer compliances for businesses and ratepayers.
- Does Council have a role to encourage businesses to relocate or establish here? If so, what kind of support should Council offer?
No, Council needs to foster business friendly practices, not provide incentives.
- How Important is it to tell the “Kapiti Story” and how would you go about supporting a project to do this?
Telling the Kapiti story is best achieved by businesses and the public; leave the Council to focus on core services for ratepayers.
- The future of the well-patronised Kapiti Community Centre is in doubt due to the discovery of leaks and mould in the building. Do you believe Kapiti needs a Community Centre? If so, what needs to happen to ensure we have one?
The current Community Centre is not needed. It is better to spread and develop such resources throughout the villages of Kapiti.
- There has been much debate over the proposed Kapiti Gateway project. There are varying views on the need for a Gateway, the proposed cost and the proposed location. How would you work towards a solution that is acceptable to the various stakeholders, including Council, the community, retailers, visitors and affected parties?
Get everyone in a room and nominate a Committee of seven. Delegate powers to the Committee to carry the project forward.
- The Raumati Swimming Pool complex has been lying idle for some time. It has been proposed that the complex be used to develop a Marine Discovery Centre, which would have both local and national significance. Do you support the development of such a Centre? How should it be funded? Who should lead this project?
I support any community centred not-for-profit project that has the goals of community development in mind. The project instigators must be responsible for funding and leading the project
- What are your views on the protection of our coastlines and key coastal infrastructure?
Short time: micro efforts to protect public infrastructure is the responsibility of local and central government. Private property owners must be responsible for funding their own protections. Long-term: Kapiti Coast/lower North Island is lifting out of the sea, due to earthquakes and a large quake will soften the blow of coastal erosion.
