My vision for the district is a thriving local economy operating within a liveable sustainable environmental framework for all. Our towns will be accessible for everyone from elderly pedestrians to commuters walking, cycling and even scootering.

Community sport and recreational facilities (including playgrounds) and green spaces will be well designed and well used by recreational activities to support healthy and social wellbeing outcomes.

To achieve this we will need to:

Ensure council has zoned adequate land to meet demand in industrial, commercial, and residential and for growth in the coming years.

Be practising waste minimisation ( reducing, recycling, reusing, repurposing). This will be made possible through council enablement of Resource Recovery Centres (two are currently in the works) making it easy to divert reusable and recyclable resources from landfill. Include accessibility in our urban design now, whether it be allowing for cycle paths or kerbing that better caters for mobility scooters and pushchairs and advocate for effective transport connectivity throughout our district and beyond.

Have recreational facilities designed by working alongside the community to achieve exceptional outcomes. The rethinking of the Morrinsville Recreation Ground is a great example of this approach.

These facilities will be complemented by an investment plan to keep pace with demands and a strategy of Hubbing where activities with complementary needs share facilities. Connect and build stronger relationships with the many clubs and organisations in our community who help maintain green spaces and provide sport and recreation including swimming.

Local government has a short term cycle of planning with a Long Term Plan developed and consulted on every three years. My leadership will be about keeping an eye on where we want the district to be in 10 years and ensuring that our intermediate steps take us in that direction. Our district population is projected to grow for some years to come. Continuing on taking a broad long term view now is vital irrespective of the uncertainties of the outcomes of the local government reform review throws up.

I hope you will join me in getting on with our progress, and creating a truly connected community to live and thrive in. I hope I’m worthy of your vote.