Mayoral candidate Murray Guy wants transparency

IN TO WIN: Tauranga City Council mayoral candidate Murray Guy. PHOTO/GEORGE NOVAK

"Community focused leadership" is the ticket former Tauranga City Councillor Murray Guy is running on for the position of mayor.

"I want to be the Mayor that ensures all of our residents and staff feel valued, that their well-being, thoughts, feelings and aspirations for our city are respected and considered."

Mr Guy was also running for a position as councillor of the Te Papa-Welcome Bay Ward.

One of Mr Guy's main priorities was to implement a Tauranga CBD plan with "robust consultation processes with inner city businesses".

"Set aside a period of 6 to 12 months for extensive community consultation, that includes schools, various community groups, identifying the many and varied options being considered by council."

He thought the council needed to seek more community feedback on the proposed museum, performing arts centre and stadium.

He said he aimed to see improved facilities and infrastructure at the same time as reducing overheads, debt and rates.

Mr Guy said the development of safe transport options around the city, such as main arterial route enhancements, safe cycling and park and ride facilities were "critical issues".

Flood protection and grey water reticulation and treatment also needed to be addressed, according to Mr Guy.

"Tauranga City Council must return to its fixed rate cap policy. We need to focus on the 'need to have' not the 'nice to have'."

Mr Guy said the use of online referendum and survey options "must become a standard tool to secure community feedback and genuine participation".

This would ensure "real" performance measures of council and staff, as would assigning councillors to activity area portfolios, Mr Guy said.

He would ensure all council meetings, such as workshops and briefings, would be recorded and accessible to the public.

Mr Guy said he had been working with the Tauranga City Council in terms of tourism, housing development, storm water and associated infrastructure through his endeavours as a tour coach operator and his family owning land in the Gate Pa, Merivale and Welcome Bay areas since the 90s.

He said more affordable housing was achievable with building impact fees being transferred to developer impact fees and deducted from the green fields.

He was against the amalgamation of Tauranga councils, "without evidence that it will provide benefits to our community as a whole and preserve democracy".

If elected as mayor, his preferred option as deputy would be a female candidate.

"For gender and contribution balance, with the personal skill sets that best match the role," he said.

He was elected as a Te Papa Ward Councillor in 2001, and remained on council until 2013.