Penny Smart

Answers from Penny Smart

As I am not a current NRC Councillor please take my statements below as my opinion only.

Information on all of the issues raised below is key, I fully acknowledge that I do not necessarily have all relevant information to the issues raised in your questions

If elected I would work hard to make sure that I was as fully informed as possible at all times.

I would have an open door policy and would welcome more discussion.

If I have been unclear in any way with my answers please feel free to contact me via email, my website and or face book

pennyfsmart@gmail.com, pennysmart.nz, penny smart nrc candidate

The wider environment

1. As a Councillor, what measures would you promote to protect and promote our natural environment?

Monitoring of environmental change is very important, it must be in the right places, using the right technology, within appropriate time frames and consistently reviewed using trending date and benchmarks

The Draft Regional Plan is the implementation tool for the Regional Policy Statement and above that the National Policy Statements.

The finalised Regional Plan must be robust enough to protect our environment and thereby enable it to be promoted

The other legs of the stool are consultation; with community including iwi, business/industry, as well as education and resourcing

1. What do you think Council should do to improve the health of our local streams, rivers, harbours and water supply?

As above really important to monitor appropriately and consistently

As well as community engagement including iwi and industry

As per the Draft Regional Plan proposed rules, including stock exclusion, water quality and quantity limits, wetland restoration

Continuation, increasing amounts and promoting of the Environmental funding that is available, which as a prerequisite an environmental plan per property/application is required

Cast the net broadly to look for solutions

Continue working with school and community in an educational capacity

There is a saying that it is people that both create and resolve environmental problems

1. Do we need a tax on non-recyclable materials, or rules to minimise waste? YES/NO

Explain:

Reduction of waste is certainly one of the things that we as Northlanders can address to reduce the effects of Climate Change.

The recent Climate Change seminar that I attended at North Tec in Whangarei was very good and it was good to see NRC representative there

I am a firm believer in the carrot and not the stick when possible

We must increase education and options available for communities

Certainly support initiatives for minimisation.

Plastic bag bans or disincentives would be a first for me

I think that a tax on non-recyclable material could be very difficult to implement and to manage and would need to be done on a national basis

Employment and Economy

1. 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, I would support green technology development in Northland

I would prefer to see more Small to Medium Businesses setting up in the regions as opposed to Whangarei

There could be more than one hub if feasible

Something for Northland Inc to look into

1. Do you consider that it is your role to promote regional development of sustainable industries, e.g. horticulture? YES/ NO

Yes.

Under the RMA the definition of ‘Environment’ and NRC’s mandate to look after it, not only includes natural and physical resources and ecosystems, but also amenity values and social, economic, aesthetic, and cultural dimensions.

Sustainability for me would include all that is in the above definition of environment

1. What industries do you consider require promotion in the district/ region?

Tourism – with emphasis on Eco and off peak

IT so that there is an option that business can operate anywhere

Other businesses that can sustainably provide added value before leaving Northland

1. What is your stance on GMO’s? Do you support the current precautionary approach of the district and regional councils in Northland?

Bearing in mind that there are various types of GE/GMO’s

Yes, definitely support a very precautionary approach, for me the science and security is not there to have me think otherwise, as once released there would be no going back

I also think that there is a definite economic advantage in Northland and NZ continuing with its current GE free reputation

1. Would you be prepared to lobby Government for more assistance for regional employment and sustainable industry development? YES / NO

As a council yes

1. What other ideas do you have to improve the Northland economy and wellbeing of Northlanders?

Big believer in planning, in any planning for Northland there must be consultation, collaboration and buy in from all communities – I think that we need 20, 50 and 100 year plans in place

We need to work to our strengths one of which is our pristine environment

IT, transport, SME establishment; especially value add; in the regions, community enablement and resilience

1. 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, refer above answer

Housing and Town Planning

1. What actions should council take to help ensure a healthy and affordable home is available for all people in our community?

Building community resilience, taking businesses to the regions thus enabling employment

1. Should councils zone (and plan for) compact residential housing development in/near town centres? YES/ NO

Joint collaboration between Local and Regional re the responsible issuing of resource and building consents

Again long term demand assessment, feasibility, consultation and planning required. Very important to make sure you are making decisions using accurate and pertinent information

General

1. 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?

Be more inclusive at the planning stage as opposed to the implementation stages

We can learn from all cultures especially Maori regarding the guardianship of the land and water

1. Do you have a particular project that you feel passionate about and would want to promote?

Rubbish reduction and Biosecurity control – sorry two here

1. What local service do you feel is most important for your community and how would you promote it?

Roading

Encourage all councils to work together along with Transit NZ and MPI

Northland Rail / Transport

(For the reader’s information below is taken directly from the 30-year Transport Plan)

To achieve the 2040 Northland transport vision, eight outcomes have been developed to help us plan the priorities we need to focus on. They are:

• A sustainable transport system
• A safe transport system
• A region that is well-connected to Auckland and other parts of New Zealand
• A well-developed and maintained transport network
• Bulk freight moved from road-based to rail and coastal shipping
• Improved transport choices and accessibility to key services
• More efficient port services
• Enhancing the environmental and cultural values of Northland through strategic transportation planning.

Key initiatives in the strategy include:

• The long term goal of four laning State Highway 1 from Auckland to the Bay of Islands
• The development of an international airport in the Bay of Islands
• Developing a strategic route to direct freight traffic away from State Highway 1
• The long term goal of bridging the Hokianga Harbour
• Linking Northport to the national rail network.

A further challenge to Northland is the existing state of the rail system, which is under developed and limited by weight and speed restrictions as well as the size of existing tunnels which will not take the new larger containers. This lack of investment has serious implications for road safety, as freight is forced to be transported by road and is also seen as a huge impediment to future economic growth for the region.

Northland has excellent potential for a commercial container port, along with increases in volumes of bulk cargo, with Marsden Point having the deepest natural harbour in Australasia. However, challenges arise in regard to access to the port area for freight, land-based loading facilities, and competition with the port facilities in Auckland and Tauranga.

General challenges to long term transport planning in Northland also exist in access to public transport including alternative modes, vehicle emissions and the effect on public health from issues such as physical activity, traffic safety, air quality (including dust from gravel roads), noise levels, social support and cohesion and access to health services and or facilities, along with general environmental sustainability.

(information from Transport Plan finishes here)

There are challenges for all of Northland in the reestablishment and or maintenance of our rail way lines. I agree with the incremental approach of upgrading the rail

Another other option that may be worth looking into would be an alternative route for freight truck than that of cars.

I do think that we need to start at the beginning and make sure and support sustainable businesses at both ends to ensure that enough income can be generated from using the rail line/s or alternative route to enable them to not run at substantial losses.

1. Do you support commencement of construction of the rail line to Marsden Point within the next 12 months?

Will be dependent on the results of the Kiwi rail strategy review as they own the line

YES/ NO. If YES, would you be prepared to join a delegation to Parliament on the matter YES/ NO

Comment to explain position:

If it was council lead

1. Do you support the retention and upgrading of the Kauri to Otiria rail line? YES/NO. If YES, would you be prepared to join a delegation to Parliament on the matter? YES/ NO

Comment to explain position:

Again it would need to be a whole of council decision

I am not yet privy to all of the information so will have to reserve my opinion

1. Do you support the retention and upgrading of the Dargaville rail line? YES/NO. If YES, would you be prepared to join a delegation to Parliament on the matter? YES/ NO

Comment to explain position:

As above

1. Do you support upgrading of the Auckland to Whangarei rail line? YES/NO. If YES, would you be prepared to join a delegation to Parliament on the matter? YES/ NO

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?

Support current initiatives regarding public transport. This would include monitoring and reviewing on a consistent basis

The cycle way planned should be continued asap in my opinion

More walk ways, initially town based would also be something I support

Climate Change

1. 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

I attended a Climate Change seminar last week. Climate change is not coming – it is here and needs to be planned for and mitigated

1. 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

Yes.

1. What will you do on council to help reduce the effects of climate change and help our communities adapt to a more unstable climate?

Educate and support communities to make changes

Request support from Central Government

Plant more trees, green waste hubs, promote electric vehicles, push ahead with rail feasibility, monitor and review land use

Thank you for the opportunity to answer these questions

I commend you all for your engagement and hope that we get the opportunity to work together post the election.