Libby Jones – candidate Kaipara District Council
The wider environment
As a Councillor, what measures would you promote to protect and promote our natural environment?
Lead by example and make sure all KDC operations are best practice, educate people and set policy that manages the balance between environmental, economic, social and cultural sustainability.
What do you think Council should do to improve the health of our local streams, rivers, harbours and water supply?
Work closely with other regulatory bodies – NRC, DOC to ensure monitoring is in place. Work with local users and residents to educate them to best practice and look at incentives to allow this to happen easily
Do we need a tax on non-recyclable materials, or rules to minimise waste? YES/NO
Explain:
We need to make it easy for people to reduce, reuse and recycle. High costs make it more likely people will dump such items in inappropriate places. I think we need to look at the non recyclable materials that we import, and reduce those and further educate and incentivise local recyclable materials. We have to be sure that recycling is not costing us even more to dispose.
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
Whichever town seems appropriate and has the will to make it happen. I am not familiar currently with where that would best be.
Do you consider that it is your role to promote regional development of sustainable industries, e.g. horticulture? YES/ NO
What industries do you consider require promotion in the district/ region?
My role is in the district. All industries need to look at working towards sustainability.
What is your stance on GMO’s? Do you support the current precautionary approach of the district and regional councils in Northland?
Yes so far I do, until further information convinces me otherwise. I always keep an open mind.
Would you be prepared to lobby Government for more assistance for regional employment and sustainable industry development? YES / NO
Absolutely. It is essential Northland receives all that we can from central government to meet our special requirements. We need to lobby together with all councils and local MPs.
What other ideas do you have to improve the Northland economy and wellbeing of Northlanders?
Northland Intersectorial Forum needs to take a more leading role and look at the social, economic and other determinants that affect Northlander’s economic development, health, wellbeing.
Small industry supported locally needs to occur to promote employment.
Do you believe your council has a role in building and strengthening our communities? YES/ NO
If yes then how would you do so?
Listen to the communities’ needs and concerns. Make locality plans with each community that involves council and local people. Support this model so that it is sustainable and doesn’t fall over when the council staff leave.
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?
Work together with other bodies, including government and NGOS. Ensure the landlords WOF is in place and monitored for rentals.
Should councils zone (and plan for) compact residential housing development in/near town centres? YES/ NO
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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?
Take meetings to marae rather than expect delegations to council offices. Use a lense that views new policies that impact on local Maori from that perspective.
Do you have a particular project that you feel passionate about and would want to promote?
Youth advisory group or youth council
What local service do you feel is most important for your community and how would you promote it?
Planning for growth of Mangawhai and Kaiwaka. This is needed quite urgently. For all our local towns, villages develop locality plans with the community and keep them engaged in the implementation.
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:
We need to do better with our economic development in Northland and this seems like a good way to assist with that. However at this stage I am not fully informed so would be interested in more info.
This is not in my district .
Comment to explain position:
Unsure of this, as not in my district. I do support rail where practicable however
Comment to explain position:
As above but keen to get more information to assess the practicalities and cost.
Comment to explain position:
As above
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?
Cycle lanes, cycle signs. cycle way from Maungaturoto to Ruawai would be a great initiative where it is off the roads and safe
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
Again need more information to make an informed decision
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
As above
What will you do on council to help reduce the effects of climate change and help our communities adapt to a more unstable climate?
Councils need to do what they can to be environmentally protect the environment, and role model such as electric cars. Can do an environmental audit and see where change can occur without big costs, as Kaipara has large debt to contend with.
In your opinion how do you see the future of Eco Care- Mangawhai’s waste water scheme?
It will grow with more households linking into it, this will reduce unit costs. Unfortunaltey there is no money form government or anyowhere else to bail out the debt associated with it, so the costs will need to be met as they are being done now by the district for the next little while. The point is to learn from this mistake and not let it happen again, through transparency and accountability from staff and council.