Mayoral profile: Ralph Burrell

Mayoral elections in Otago's "heartland" this year have attracted 14 candidates. The Otago Daily Times today continues its series profiling candidates, with Oamaru reporter David Bruce interviewing Ralph Burrell.

Ralph Burrell first thought about emigrating from northern England to South Africa.

"What about New Zealand?" said his family doctor.

"Where's that?" said Mr Burrell.

Now, Mr Burrell is a New Zealand citizen - achieved just in time for his nomination for the Waitaki mayoralty to be accepted.

He first settled in Auckland, working for car franchises.

Then, before Oamaru, he was at Garston, where he bought a garage, developing it and adding a cafe.

With his two daughters boarding at Waitaki Girls' High School, he and wife Margaret decided to shift to Oamaru, and he has never regretted it.

"We like the place. It has everything you need in a town."

He bought John Dorsey Motors, re-established it as RB Motors and now also does driver training.

Why are you standing for mayor?
I see a lot of wastage.

Things being done wrong, not being done properly. Silly things that should be basic fixes.

Big projects - it's very important the community gets involved and they are all behind it.

In the five years I've been here the biggest project has been the opera house.

I was behind that, but certain things could have been done in a better way.

As far as where we go now with the Forrester Heights subdivision - whether that was the right thing or not ... there's a lot of people upset about that.

Why do you think you will make a good mayor?
Because I can relate to the everyday person. I'm very practical in my thinking.

What prompted you to stand?
Just to see the town go forward. For the last three years, I think we've been very stagnant. There's nothing moved forward.

OK, the new (Alps to Ocean) cycleway trail - that'll be absolutely fantastic for the town and district.

I really want to see the town go ahead.

You hear every day, people moaning about things - rates and all those things.

But if you have few people in an area, it is inevitable the costs are shared over a small amount of people.

If I went and looked at a business ... the first thing I would look at is the size and how we can generate more sales.

With a situation like Oamaru, what we need is more people and businesses.

So that's what I would look at first.

What would be your main priority as mayor over the next three years?
To make sure the infrastructure is up to where it should be.

One of my, sort of, pet hates is the wastage of water.

We have a marvellous treatment plant, but water leaking around the streets all over the place - sometimes for days.

I believe every business and every home in Oamaru should have a water meter.

Now, make sure you get this right - there will be an allowance for every home and business to use a reasonable amount of water to cover what they need.

It will be quite adequate, it won't mean people can't wash their car at the weekend.

If they use more than that, first we'll see if they have a problem.

If they continue to use more for some other purpose then they'll have to pay for it.

I think that's a fair way of doing it.

What position do you think the district is in economically?
Definitely could do better.

How do you see that happening?
We have to have to do something to make Oamaru a destination for new businesses.

I'll give you an example. I've still got a place down in Garston. I was considering changing the use from a garage to a backpackers.

I rang Southland District Council, spoke to a guy.

He said, 'If you want to I'll come up and have an onsite meeting with you and we'll go through all the options'.

Absolutely free of charge, willing to travel 120km up to Garston to give advice on the options.

That's what I want to see in our town.

You know, I don't want someone coming out and saying you won't be able to do that because of this, because this rule says you can't do that.

I've had first-hand experience of that. I won't let it happen.

Do you think you can make a good mayor without council experience?
I don't believe you need that [experience].

Any organisation has got protocols to go through, meetings have to be run in a certain way.

It's no different being in any organisation.

I was president of the rotary club [of Waitaki] last year and you have other people who are specialists in other areas and they bring all their skills to the table as well.

How are you campaigning?
Well, I'm going to all the different meetings.

Invitations are coming around [for candidates' meetings and forums].

I'm just getting my signs all sorted out now. What I'm actually planning on doing ... But I don't want to let that out ...

It might give others ideas. I'm going to get out and meet the people.

• The postal voting period is September 17 to October 9 (closing at noon).

Tomorrow: Hamish Anderson (Clutha).

Ralph Burrell
Age: 52 years.
Occupation: Garage proprietor and driver training.
Marital status: Married to Margaret with two adult children.
Council experience: "Only with dealing with them when I want something done."
Describe yourself in three words: "Practical, determined, enthusiastic."