Rates Inquiry

The long awaited Rates Inquiry has been released. You can find it here. There is a Herald report on it here where Dick Hubbard says it vindicated his council. Whatever tickles your fancy I suppose Dick, but no one else sees it that way.

It confirms what Shore Can has known for a long time: that Rates increases are unaffordable; that spending is unbridled; and that councils plan very poorly.

Auckland C & R Candidate, Aaron Bhatnagar, makes a case for a council version of the Fiscal Responsibility Act. I like that idea.

One thing is for sure, under Shore Can there would be a Cap on Rates to inflation plus an adjustment for population growth. It is easily affordable as I will outline in due course.

Whenuapai Airport

One of the big issues in this year's election is Whenuapai Airport. Used currently by the RNZAF it is due to become available in about 2015 for general use when the RNZAF move to Ohakea Air Base.

Shore Can's policy is very simple. Ratepayers money should not be used to fund a commercial venture that is not even in North Shore City. If private enterprise wish to fund feasibility studies and raise funds and go through the resource management process etc than that must be their risk, not the people of the North Shore.

Very simple.

You just don't pick fights with empty pockets like AIA, Dubai and AIrNZ (the government). The ratepayers will suffer dreadfully if we do.
Linked Article

Takapuna Boat Ramp

This is one of the silly things about the RMA. One of the best boat clubs in the world, next to one of the most fantastic beaches, will struggle to get their much needed concrete boat ramp leading into the water.

Environmentalism has overtaken common sense.

The boat club should get the ramp without any fuss or fanfare. Better RMA interpretations is one of the areas Shore Can will focus on when our people are elected.