She said these included consent applications to remove trees and to subdivide the Waitakere heritage area, "not requiring notification - so no one can have a say or appeal it."
Barton believes Greg Presland, the Labour and Future-West candidate is the man for the job.
Presland is a member of the Waitakere Ranges Local Board and former city councillor, who was involved in the Ranges Protection Project, which led to the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act 2008.
"I am in full support of giving urban trees protection status."
As a youth advocate lawyer, Presland also wants to use his experience to take a "very deep look" at the issue of youth crime.
Youth crime is at front of mind for Henderson-Massey residentsand continues to present a problem for the community, as evidenced by the fatal stabbing of Henderson dairy owner Arun Kumar in 2014.
Libby Hunt, director of Celebrate Recovery, a programme held at the Massey Community Church, said the area could really benefit from a youth centre where youngsters could go to make positive connections and seek support.
Linda Cooper, one of two current Waitakere ward councillors, and chairman of the Hearings Committee, is standing independently.
In her capacity as a councillor and as councillor liaison for the Youth Advisory Panel, she has been involved in targeting youth crime in Henderson-Massey, which she said had dropped since security cameras were installed and police patrols increased.
When it comes to the trees, Cooper is of a different mind to Presland. "We need balance and it is about following the rules people don't have a right to speak on every single thing."
She said she actively fights against kauri dieback disease and the felling of protected trees, but believes people need to have the right to build on their properties, which may necessitate the removal of unprotected trees.
Penny Hulse, Auckland's deputy mayor and co-councillor for the Waitakere ward, agrees with Cooper.
Hulse's "strong streak of independence" has led her to stand independently and according to Presland she "won't have trouble being re-elected" for what could be the third time.
The ongoing dilemma that is the Te Atatu roadworks has also been raised by residents, and Hulse agrees it is taking "a horrendously long time."
"The reality is it is hugely complex could we have done it better? Yes. Will we do the roadworks at Lincoln Rd better? Yes."
Transport is a core focus of Hulse's campaign, and she hopes to reduce travel time and increase efficiency.
She said the answer lay in improving public transport, including adding dedicated bus lanes to the Northwestern Motorway.
YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR CHOICE
Monday: Auckland mayoral hopefuls share their vision
Tuesday: Waitemata
Wednesday: Albert-Eden-Roskill and Manurewa-Papakura
Thursday: Albany and Howick
Friday: Licensing trusts and DHBs
Today: All the Auckland wards, plus regional highlights, in our local body election supplement
