Bigger and better the common aim

They may be competing for the Waitaki mayoralty but (from left) incumbent Alex Familton, challengers Bruce Cawley, Ralph Burrell and deputy mayor Gary Kircher were happy enough to appear together for yesterday's mayoral forum in Oamaru. Photo by Sally Rae.

While their views differ on how that should be achieved, at the Otago Daily Times-Otago Chamber of Commerce Waitaki mayoral forum yesterday all four candidates supported three possible projects - the Meridian Energy north bank tunnel scheme on the lower Waitaki River, Holcim's cement plant at Weston and the Alps to Ocean cycleway.

Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton, deputy mayor Gary Kircher, Ralph Burrell and Bruce Cawley all backed the big projects.

Mr Burrell favoured the Meridian and Holcim proposals, which would bring jobs and attract businesses.

The cycleway was another way to bring more income into the area, he said.

Mr Kircher said Meridian's power scheme was a better solution than its Project Aqua proposal.

He and his family lived at Weston and he was happy to be near the cement plant, and the cycleway would generate extra business.

Mr Cawley answered "yes" to all three, but was worried Waimate would benefit more from jobs created by building the power scheme.

He wanted to see the district go ahead with new businesses.

Mr Familton agreed with the power scheme and cement plant because the district needed that activity.

The cycleway was a "brilliant concept" and the icing on the cake was the $2.7 million from the Government to build it.

At the start of the lunch-time forum, candidates gave personal details and why they were standing, followed by two set questions, then questions from some of the 60 people there.

One set question asked candidates for three key issues they would campaign on.

Mr Kircher chose pushing the development of the industrial park north of Oamaru, the Alps to Ocean cycleway and improving relations between the council and its community by reducing bureaucracy.

Mr Cawley pointed to the need for the council to stick to its core services, stop spending on big projects, and attracting new businesses and industries, possibly by offering incentives.

Mr Familton emphasised attracting businesses by making sure the council was user-friendly, building on and encouraging teamwork in the community and ensuring outside sources financed projects.

Mr Burrell saw harbour development as a key, but with outside investment.

He envisaged the "absolutely fantastic" Alps to Ocean cycleway having a big spinoff for the district, and developing the north Oamaru industrial area.

Questions from the floor covered council-owned businesses competing against ratepayer-owned businesses, the council acting in secret, and rates paid by farmers after recent property revaluations.

Asked if candidates would encourage the council to have its meeting later in the day so more people could attend and whether they would agree to them being televised, Mr Familton, Mr Burrell and Mr Cawley answered, "Yes, and yes."

Mr Kircher took a little longer, , but agreed with both.

- david.bruce@odt.co.nz