Super City: Uncertainty rules on the fringes

People relax on picnic tables under a large willow tree between shopping at the Sunday Clevedon markets. Photo / NZ Herald

Transport, representation, rates, heritage - all the usual issues are present in the election race for Franklin's community boards. But one issue overshadows them all - uncertainty.

Even hardened campaigners admit they are unsure of how much responsibility the new local boards will have.

Because Franklin is on the geographic fringes, with a single councillor in the Super City, a community mouthpiece is more crucial than ever. But whether the local boards will be toothless remains to be seen.

Therefore the biggest asset a board member could have is experience. Candidates will need political clout so that their rural voice reaches council chambers.

And there is plenty of experience to choose from. The candidates for the three new boards (Pukekohe, Wairoa, and Waiuku) include Franklin's deputy mayor Murray Kay, who has been in council for 27 years.

Also on the list of board candidates are a cluster of Franklin District Councillors - Magan Ranchhod is running in Pukekohe, John Rennie in Wairoa, and Daniel Lynch in Waiuku. Auckland Regional Councillor for Manukau Jan Sinclair is running in Wairoa.

Citizens and Ratepayers have the largest political ticket at board level, which is not surprising given the voting trend of the region at the general election.

Franklin is farming country, and Hunua, Botany and Papakura all voted National in 2008.

The candidates are keen to be included on tickets to align themselves with a councillor and get traction in the new council.

The competition for the councillor spot is a two-horse race between C&R's Des Morrison and Auckland Regional Councillor Dianne Glenn.

In Pukekohe, where the bulk of Franklin's population lives, the biggest issues are controlled growth and transport. The region fears that its strategic growth plan, which promotes development around the township, will be ignored by the new council.

At least half of Pukekohe's population work in the city, and while train services have grown to 20 a day, that is not enough, say residents.

They want the more regular Papakura train service to be extended one stop further.

Improved transport is also a priority for the more isolated Waiuku subdivision. The region has one bus into the city at 6am, and a return bus at 6.30pm. ARC has trialled a new service, but it flopped. Now, with Waiuku's connections to Auckland growing, a regular transport link to the city is near the top of the priority list.

Waiuku is one of the oldest townships in the area, established in 1843 as a port on the trade route between Waikato and Auckland. Therefore heritage and tourism remained a priority. Candidates spoke of clearing the coast of mangroves and encouraging the return of ferry services from Auckland.

On the other side of the Franklin ward, the Wairoa subdivision is increasingly becoming a retreat for wealthy Aucklanders.

Community groups were concerned that if urban sprawl continued unabated residents would be "rated off" their land as it was subdivided and used for housing instead of farming or horticulture. "We can't let Beachlands become another Botany," said one regional councillor.

Most of the all, the proud, older-than-average Franklin communities are defiantly clinging to their green spaces, hoping that the new council will not meddle with their rural character and productivity. If the community boards can influence that, residents will feel they are not toothless after all.

CANDIDATES

PUKEKOHE SUBDIVISION - 4 SEATS

* Andrew Baker, Citizens & Ratepayers - Team Franklin
* George Tearoha Kahi, Independent
* Murray Kay, Citizens & Ratepayers - Team Franklin
* Moira Lomas, (no ticket stated)
* Paul Muir, Independent
* Magan Ranchod, Citizens & Ratepayers - Team Franklin

WAIROA SUBDIVISION - 3 SEATS

* Allan Bell, Independent
* Bill Cashmore, Citizens & Ratepayers - Team Franklin
* Lance Gedge, Independent
* Graeme Leggat, Independent
* Carol McKenzie-Rex, Independent
* John Rennie, Citizens & Ratepayers - Team Franklin
* Jan Sinclair, Citizens & Ratepayers - Team Franklin
* Wes Taylor, Grey Power Pohutukawa Coast Assoc. Inc.

WAIUKU SUBDIVISION - 2 SEATS

* Daniel Lynch, Independent
* Jill Naysmith, Citizens & Ratepayers - Team Franklin
* Melanie Phillips, (no ticket stated)
* Lucie Rutherfurd, Independent
* Geoff Smith, Independent

* From the New Zealand Herald feature, 'Super City - Election Guide'