The Half Moon Bay Residents and Ratepayers Association is holding a meet the mayoral candidates meeting at 7pm at the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club, Aratai Drive, Half Moon Bay on Monday September 5.
We expect to have all five candidates hoping to replace outgoing mayor Phil Goff in attendance.
Each will be given the opportunity to address the residents present, promoting as Mayor their vision for
Auckland City, in particular how they intend to drive Council costs (rates) down.
Each candidate will then be asked a range of set questions on key local issues, like the high cost of cycleways versus their current use and inconvenience to other community users; the need for increased ferry services to HMB from the CBD, improved parking at HMB.
Importantly, how they would they propose dealing with Auckland Transport in addressing how they can move AT to a community solutions-based organisation, rather than the creator of the many AT-created problems facing our community today.
Our community is multicultural with a mix of pensioners to third generation young families.
With the high cost of rates and insurance either driving the elderly out of their homes or making owning a home for young families with Council driven added costs so forbidding.
The key things facing our community is a reliable and regular transport service offering direct access to the CBD and the Auckland Hospital medical precinct, without having to change buses or mode of transport three times to get to the CBD.
Improved across-city public transport is essential. Not every one wants to spend several hours going west via the CBD.
Improved ferry services to the city is a must, especially on the first sailing and weekends and evenings.
Keith Ingram
Half Moon Bay R&R Assn
