Equipped
Mayoral hopeful Stu Piddington in entrance of one in every of Timaru’s crowd pleasing work of art.
Timaru has a two-horse race for mayor, with a councillor, and previous journalist, throwing his hat within the ring.
Stu Piddington, a former reporter at The Timaru Usher in, and one-term councillor, showed his determination to face for the highest place, and for a councillor place, on this yr’s native frame election on Wednesday afternoon.
As at 4pm on Wednesday, the one different mayoral nomination for the Timaru District was once Nigel Bowen.
“I’m status for mayor as it’s excellent for democracy for folks to have a decision,’’ Piddington stated.
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“I need a robust, clear council, the place tough debate is welcomed. A council prepared to make knowledgeable choices with out unending specialists’ studies.’’
He additionally felt their had to be “significantly better strains of communique with citizens, ratepayers and passion teams over the district’s problems’’.
“I imagine it is higher to take folks alongside the adventure reasonably than stay them at nighttime.”
Piddington stated he believed ratepayers must be absolutely knowledgeable on problems from the Chrome Platers construction (New Zealand’s most threatening infected web page), the Pareora Dam and the ‘’burgeoning prices’’ of the Theatre Royal and Museum challenge to the improve of the terminal at Timaru Airport.
“The council additionally wishes to concentrate on supply whilst making sure ratepayers’ cash isn’t wasted.”
In his first time period as a councillor, he stated his issues integrated, every now and then, seeing democracy being deflected, ‘’with specialists or workforce having the sway over elected participants’’.
“I’m additionally prepared to verify locals get a good crack in any respect council paintings, reasonably than heading out of the city, when we now have the talents throughout the district.
“All council jobs additionally wish to be marketed, to verify the most productive individual is appointed.”
Piddington is strongly towards the Executive’s 3 Waters and stated he was once afraid of the native govt reform.
“My priorities come with financial enlargement together with ensuring there’s extra inexpensive residential land in Timaru, which Project Timaru has highlighted as being a reason why choosen as to not relocate.
“There’s a wish to have a sustainable and inexpensive plan to handle local weather exchange whilst a 3rd water supply additionally must be secured for the way forward for the district, if we’re nonetheless in keep watch over of water property.’’
He additionally idea Waka Kotahi NZ Shipping Company had to be “actively’’ challenged at the state of the highways ‘’particularly thru Timaru’’.
Piddington lashed out at what he sees as wasted ratepayer cash.
“. . . from spending $1.5 million on trials for the CBD to $4.2m at the plan for the internal town, and now not ready to November 2024 for a plan whilst persons are nonetheless slipping on tiles within the CBD.’’
He would additionally inspire the established order of a adolescence council, ‘’so the following technology actually have a voice of their long term’’.
He stated it was once nice to look new ‘’top calibre applicants’’ put their names ahead for the native frame elections.
“Be mindful exchange isn’t a foul factor.”
Peter Bennett, Allan Sales space, Barbara Gilchrist, Stacey Scott, Sally Parker, Shane Wilson and Troy Titheridge have all been nominated within the Timaru Ward, in addition to Gavin Oliver and Wayne O’Donnell who’ve been nominated within the Geraldine Ward and Michelle Pye and Scott Shannon within the Delightful Level-Temuka Ward.
Nominations shut at noon on August 12, with native frame elections to be hung on October 8.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/information/300658812/councillor-real-estate-agent-and-former-journalist-stu-piddington-stands-for-mayor
