With one year until the local government election, elected representatives from City Vision and Roskill Community Voice in the Albert-Eden-Roskill area are pleased with their achievements promoting progressive policies since the new council was established.
The new Auckland Council came into existence two years ago and at that time many people worried it would mean local communities would lose their voice.
“We’ve been fighting to make sure the new structure looks after our local communities,” says spokesperson for City Vision and councillor for Albert-Eden-Roskill Ward Cathy Casey.
“Progressive elected members on the Governing Body and Local Boards of Auckland Council have had their shoulders to the wheel delivering better public transport, keeping rates fair, protecting heritage and the environment, and supporting investment in our local communities.
Cr Casey was speaking to launch the two year accountability reports for City Vision and Roskill Community Voice in Albert-Eden-Roskill. She says City Vision and supporting groups (made up of Labour, Greens and community independents) have been working together to try and make the new unified governance structure a success.
“We think it’s important to communicate what we have been doing at the same time as listening to what people think is important about their city. Many people tell us they’re pleased to see progressive values becoming embedded in Auckland”, says City Vision member of the Albert-Eden Local Board Peter Haynes.
“Many people had strong reservations about the ‘Supercity’ at the time of its creation, and while concerns remain, we’re working to bring Auckland together, end the negative do-nothing politics of the past and give our communities a voice."
The reports cover the Puketapapa and Albert-Eden Local Local Boards and Albert-Eden-Roskill Ward. A report has also been produced for the Waitemata Local Board and Ward area. The reports show our elected members delivering on their election commitments, including:
- Being staunch advocates for public ownership of public assets by fighting off attempts to privatise the airport, ports and water utility company from Communities & Ratepayer representatives
- Advocating for stronger environmental and heritage protection standards
- Prudent financial oversight and working to reduce the impact of the government’s amalgamation on rates - Strongly pushing for better public transport, including the City Rail Link
- Supporting decision making at the local level to ensure local communities continue to see investment in their areas
“While some on Council have chosen to snipe from the sidelines and play negative political games, we have focussed on the issues that matter for Aucklanders”, says Roskill Community Voice member of the Puketapapa Local Board Michael Wood.
“Two years since the establishment of the new Auckland Council we are proud of our achievements, but also see much to be done. The disastrous Ports dispute must be solved fairly, CCOs need to be opened up to more public scrutiny, Local Boards need more equitable funding, the government should support our public transport agenda and Council must hold its nerve on the vision of a quality compact city. Our elected members will continue to speak up for our communities on all of these issues”, says Mr Wood.
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