Christian Simon’s answers
The wider environment
As a Mayor, what measures would you promote to protect and promote our natural environment?
General prohibition for Round Up and similar stuff
Support for voluntary groups that take care for flora and fauna that are under treat.
What do you think Council should do to improve the health of our local streams, rivers, harbours and water supply?
Fencing a strip of not less than 5 m each side along streams and waterways and planting trees.
Promoting “waste water separation systems” to use grey-water for wetland areas, collecting urine to use as fertilizer (avoiding artificial fertilizer)
Supporting holistic organic farming
Do we need a tax on non-recyclable materials, or rules to minimise waste? YES/NO
Explain: yes and use the collected money to develop alternative materials like compostable plastic
Employment and Economy
Do you support the creation of a green industry hub/ green technology development in Whangarei/ Dargaville / Kerikeri / Kaikohe / Kaitaia (circle the town that applies)? YES/ NO
Yes green “industry” everywhere, see above waste water separation systems, “green building materials and technologies everywhere ( strand boards, cellulose insulation, … )
Do you consider that it is your role to promote regional development of sustainable industries, e.g. horticulture? YES/ NO
Yes this is the most important job!
What industries do you consider require promotion in the district/ region?
Horticulture, perma-culture, building industry, water- and waste water management, sustainable forestry
What is your stance on GMO’s? Do you support the current precautionary approach of the district and regional councils in Northland?
This is a crime against the nature! And all legal and illegal actions need support to stop it.
Would you be prepared to lobby Government for more assistance for regional employment and sustainable industry development? YES / NO
Yes! We have a lot of unused opportunities.
What other ideas do you have to improve the Northland economy and wellbeing of Northlanders?
Each community should develop their own long term plan. How do we like to be our village in 10 years.
This is important to open the mind for strategic planning.
Do you believe your council has a role in building and strengthening our communities? YES/ NO
If yes then how would you do so?
Yes. We need a structural change. Not the council but the communities should be empowered to discuss their problems, to make their own decisions, user financed and organized.
Housing and Town Planning
What actions should council take to help ensure a healthy and affordable home is available for all people in our community?
The building regulations need to be reduced to an absolute minimum.
Instead of regulation we need education.
how to build healthy homes out of natural products.
Should councils zone (and plan for) compact residential housing development in/near town centres? YES/ NO
No! It is not a successful tool to protect the environment.
General
How do you think council’s relationship with mana whenua can be improved and what opportunities do you think there are to strengthen the partnership?
Do you have a particular project that you feel passionate about and would want to promote?
For On Site, Communal and Public waste water treatments we need to develop separation systems as alternative to the currently common “one pipe fit all” disaster.
What local service do you feel is most important for your community and how would you promote it?
Proper footpaths and bicycle roads would serve our communities more than anything else
Northland Rail / Transport
YES/ NO. If YES, would you be prepared to join a delegation to Parliament on the matter YES/ NO
Comment to explain position:
Yes sure but I am not prepared to join a delegation.
I would need a complete strategic concept with Marsden Point as NZ central harbour, cargo shipping to existing harbours like Auckland, Wellington, Littleton,… and new mini fright harbour places wherever possible, a rail system for further transport. We need a fee that cover the real costs for Truck Transport.
Comment to explain position:
Yes sure but I am not prepared to join a delegation.
I would need a complete strategic concept with Marsden Point as NZ central harbour, cargo shipping to existing harbours like Auckland, Wellington, Littleton,… and new mini fright harbour places wherever possible, a rail system for further transport. We need a fee that cover the real costs for Truck Transport.
Comment to explain position:
Yes sure but I am not prepared to join a delegation.
I would need a complete strategic concept with Marsden Point as NZ central harbour, cargo shipping to existing harbours like Auckland, Wellington, Littleton,… and new mini fright harbour places wherever possible, a rail system for further transport. We need a fee that cover the real costs for Truck Transport.
Comment to explain position:
Yes sure but I am not prepared to join a delegation.
I would need a complete strategic concept with Marsden Point as NZ central harbour, cargo shipping to existing harbours like Auckland, Wellington, Littleton,… and new mini fright harbour places wherever possible, a rail system for further transport. We need a fee that cover the real costs for Truck Transport.
If you support increased expenditure on rail in Northland, how should this be funded? Options (tick as many as you like)
By injection of capital funding from Government, to create a strategic asset for Northland
By NZ Transport Agency being required to include funding of rail, sea and roading and prioritising expenditure equitably
By public-private partnerships (PPPs)
By making truck road user charges more fairly represent actual costs of building and maintaining roads in NZ
By any combination of the above - explain
What would you do to improve public transport and make it more accessible, and make it easier to cycle and walk if elected?
Each community need a “5 km/h design” ( a town planning tool to look with the eyes of a child, a pedestrian and a cyclist ).
Let us make it difficult for the cars and easy for the pedestrians and cyclists to move inside your town.
Support “On call busses”
Climate Change
Should local and regional councils incorporate land use planning principles to take account of expected sea level rise? (A recent report puts 1100 additional Northland properties at risk, new total > 3000)? YES/ NO
Yes. The private owner and not the public have to bear the financial risk.
If YES, should this include planning for 100 year life of all new buildings to accommodate sea level rise (eg new Hundertwasser centre) YES/ NO
No!
What will you do on council to help reduce the effects of climate change and help our communities adapt to a more unstable climate?
Let us make aware that economic growth as leading principle is the highway to collapse.
In your opinion how do you see the future of Eco Care- Mangawhai’s waste water scheme?
First Grey water separation, second yellow water separation, 100% user financed and operated and call the district wide payment for the scheme “corruption fee” to make aware that this is the wrong policy.