Vote for Grant

Media Release

Media Release
19 August 2007

Former MP and long-time Shore resident, Grant Gillon has confirmed his intention to stand for the North Shore City Council and Community Board in the Harbour Ward in the upcoming local body election.

“Residents of Birkenhead, Glenfield, Beach Haven and Northcote are sick and tired of being treated as cash cows” said Grant Gillon today.

The disparity between the amount of rates collected from the Harbour Ward and that which is spent here is causing immense problems.

No wonder the current Mayor is worried about consulting residents and wants tasks left up to council officers (North Shore Times August 17, 2007 p. 3).

“Such, decisions made by council officers some of whom live elsewhere and have never visited the areas upon which they make decisions, has left us many sorry legacies including the Birkenhead Library debacle, dangerous channeling of peak hour traffic up suburban roads and grossly delayed improvements to the Birkdale sewerage system”.

If the Auckland region is to endure changes to its local governance then local democracy must be strengthened not eroded.

Other issues that Grant Gillon will be campaigning on include enhancing the city with an upgrade of Highbury, upgrading the antiquated Birkenhead sewer system, relieving the Onewa congestion, a northern town belt, a harbour tunnel for high occupancy vehicles and refunding developers’ levies to first home buyers.

“I oppose the proposed Whenuapai airport plans, the exorbitant rate increases and the privatisation of ratepayers’ assets such as council housing and water,” said Grant Gillon.

Grant Gillon is a local man who, with his family, has lived and worked almost all his life on the Shore. He is well known for his strong advocacy for Shore issues. Grant wants to put his experience gained as a businessman, a former Member of Parliament and firefighter along with skills developed from his recent PhD studies to work for our community.

He is a current member of Northart, Birkenhead-Northcote Community Trust, and numerous other community organisations. Grant’s lifetime experience of Shore issues provides a unique perspective and a deep understanding of our community’s needs.

A high resolution photograph of Grant Gillon is available upon request


Authorised by: Grant Gillon, 2 Fitzpatrick Pl, Birkenhead, North Shore City,
Telephone: 09 480-1835 or 0274 764 679
www.grantgillon4shore.co.nz

Rates tooooo High

The Mayor is deceiving himself, yet again, if he thinks that North Shore ratepayers are not suffering under his Council's rates rises NST 4 September). How can residents especially the elderly and low-paid be expected to afford a doubling of rates. Espoecially when the rises are to cover capital works that such ratepayers probably do not use. Reviewing large works programmesdoes not necessarily mean expensive delays. Intergenerational infrustructural works should be paid over the generations that they serve and not solely burdened onto today's residents. Mayor Wood should accept that he is out of step on this one as he has been with his support for a supercity, and reduced community consultation. The 10-year spending plan needs to be critically reassessed as to their necessity and affordibility

Rates Inquiry

Like many inquiries, the review of rates has got some things right but missed the mark on others. The North Shore City Council has projected an average rate increase per year of 8.1%. Many residents can no longer afford this compulsory tax. Council offeres must accept greater responsibility for the projections they put to Council. In turn, elected representatives have to critque these budgets in their governance role. I suspect that many councillors have been bluffed by obscure line items and generalisations. The increase in Council's secret meetings has assisted this obfuscation. Another cause for alarm is the reviews call for what is in effect the privatisation of water. We should learn from domestic and overseas experience that this approach only leads to increased prices and lower services as directors trim mainttenance to increase shareholder returns. Again the ratepayer is the loser. North Shore residents should welcome the pressure the review places on unrestrained councils but treat userpays aspects with wariness.