Unnecessary debt election issue

Chloe O'Leary, Jenna Wakeling and Rita Snowden at the children's clothing pop-up store on Taupo Quay.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 100813WCSMSHOP1

I attended the first meet the candidates evening last week and found it illuminating and entertaining, although not many won my vote. Some were ill-prepared, others downright dreadful but a few spoke with passion about Whanganui. It was helpful in terms of knowing who I won't be voting for, at least.

One of the candidate questions was quite rightly about reducing debt, particularly with the $20 million-plus albatross of a wastewater treatment plant around our necks. As an aside, this albatross expression comes from the 18th Century poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, in which the mariner in question shoots an albatross and is forced to carry the bird around his neck as his burden.

To continue on a conservation tangent, I'm concerned about the number of threatened NZ sea lions killed in the sub-Antarctic fisheries in the first three weeks of the season so far 16 as of last week. The average deaths per season for the past decade were only three. So what's changed? Independent observers are now compulsory on all fishing boats. It's hard not be cynical and assume under-reporting in previous years.

Back on track solutions for managing debt and reducing rate rises in Whanganui. There were some good ones raised at the first candidates' evening with the sensible point made that reducing spending is only part of the answer increasing income through population growth is also necessary.

Many said a review of the council's economic development unit was critical, and involving our successful businesses and marketing experts to guide new campaigns. Using our growing reputation as a technically-connected city was highlighted bringing in small entrepreneurs who can work anywhere. Adding value to primary produce in the wider district was raised too, with Hamish McDouall noting that arts sector was part of our primary production.

As someone who works from home for a global company, I'd love to see the city attract more ex-Whanganui people back, especially to raise young families. Last week there was a report about Kiwis living overseas who were unsure about returning due to the cost of living in Auckland so don't shift to Auckland, come back to Whanganui. Telecommuting works incredibly well for me and could be the same for others with supportive managers and saves hours fighting traffic every week.

We need more support for Whanganui's retail sector it's our third biggest industry. As a shopper of some repute, I'd like to see more people choosing to buy local, stemming the bleed to Palmerston North. My favourite way to buy local is supporting talented local mums making high-quality children's clothing, toys, gifts and decorations. One group have a Saturday pop-up shop in the arcade by city bridge, just down from the river traders' market.

Whanganui has a reputation for its outstanding artists and they offer shopping experiences too whether it's a one-of-a-kind Craig Winton ring, incredibly affordable students' work at the Festival of Glass or buying direct at one of the many artists' studios. What about Whanganui as a place for cashed-up Wellington arts lovers to retire?

While most candidates agreed on a line-by-line examination of council expenditure to find savings, as others pointed out last week, the council would be making small inroads into reducing its debt if it hadn't been for the wastewater treatment plant.

I'm getting sick of Michael Laws, who was mayor at the time of the plant's commissioning, going on about wanting to expose "the truth".

I've read the publicly-available report and my view is that while both the council management at the time and the original consultants should be shouldering a good portion of the responsibility for the plant problems, so should the council of the day.

It had the chance to do it right and ask the hard questions when it mattered.