LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS - IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Chris from Takapuna

WE NEED NEW COUNCILLORS WHO WILL ACT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THEIR COMMUNITY

Chris Darby and Richard Hills, Councillors for the North Shore ward, have repeatedly failed to act in the best interests of their community over the last 3 years.

In July, Devonport-Takapuna Local Board passed a vote of No Confidence in Chris Darby and Richard Hills on the Takapuna Central Car Park issue.​ This is serious and rarely happens.

● Darby,​ ​supported by Hills,​ ​has ardently supported the sale and redevelopment of the Takapuna Central Carpark since 2016 when he moved a Council resolution to sell the car park (supported by George Wood) BEFORE​ any consultation had occurred on what should happen to the site.
○ Takapuna will be left with a small town square
○ No convenient parking close to Hurstmere Rd.
○ A 400m walk from the new carpark to Hurstmere Green.
○ The local board was effectively sidelined during the process.
● Darby has consistently supported Panuku and its token consultation against the views of the local Board, as has Hills​.
● In 2016​,​ Darby also voted for adopting a long term budget which left out:
$54 million allocated towards the Lake Rd upgrade ($47m put back in after local board lobbying)
Nearly $16 million in funding for upgrades to the Bayswater and Northcote Ferry Terminals
A $3.5 million upgrade to the Takapuna Bus Station
● Darby also supported the reduction in budget to the libraries and a reduction in Council involvement in social housing.
● By contrast, Darby has supported the extravagant fit out of new headquarters for ATEED and upgrade of the old headquarters ($4 million). Hills has supported Business Class travel for Council staff.
And
● Darby’s tenure as Chair of the Planning Committee has been accompanied by increasing numbers of planning consents for developments that grossly exceed the Unitary Plan rules for height and coverage,​ which are increasingly meaningless.

Neither Darby nor Hills have been the advocates for the North Shore that we need. We do not believe they should continue to represent us.

We need new councillors and consider that Grant Gillon and Danielle Grant are worthy of support as they have a well-established and a proven track record of being highly responsive to local concerns.

Make sure you vote carefully in the election.

[Posted by Takapuna 2040 Inc (formerly Auckland 2040 who fought the Council on the Unitary Plan), a community organisation, not affiliated with any political organisation.]