Lack of contenders for community board ‘a shame’

As election day looms and voting papers arrive, constituents ponder which community board candidates to support. Reporters from The Star talk to members of two of the six boards in Dunedin, who have been appointed without entering an election race.

• No election race needed for Strath Taieri board

The new-look West Harbour Community Board has two new members, who join four familiar faces around the table.

Elected unopposed for the board’s 2019-22 term are sitting board members Trevor Johnson, Francisca Griffin, Ange McErlane and Jan Tucker, and they are joined by new members Duncan Eddy and Jacque Ruston.

The Star contacted some board members to ask how they viewed the lack of competition for the board this election, the board’s main achievements over the past three years and their thoughts on its future direction.

Mr Johnson, who has been a board member for the past 21 years, felt it was ‘‘a shame’’ more people had not put their names forward to serve on the community board, and his sentiments were broadly echoed by his fellow board members.

‘‘The community board members are important as grassroots organisations, where people can access local government in a non­threatening environment,’’ Mr Johnson said.

Asked what they felt had been the board’s most significant achievements during the past three years, the experienced board members pointed to the successful lobbying for the completion of the West Harbour cycleway­walkway, along with the clean-up and fruit tree planting in Albertson Ave.

New board member Mr Eddy said the board had done some ‘‘really good work over the past three years’’.

‘‘I’d particularly like to acknowledge the contribution of outgoing members Ryan Jones and [chairman] Steve Walker,’’ he said.

Priorities for the next three years varied, with Mr Johnson highlighting the state of local roads and roadside vegetation, and Ms McErlane expressing concern about low-lying Aramoana Rd, safety on SH88 and the water supply in the area.

Ms Griffin said she wanted to focus on encouraging younger members of the West Harbour community to get involved in local politics.

‘‘They are the future,’’ she said.

Mr Eddy said his priorities for the next three years were ‘‘protecting local heritage, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and increasing community engagement with the community board, DCC and ORC’’.

Mr Johnson welcomed the arrival of two new board members.

‘‘They will bring some fresh ideas with them, which will be great,’’ he said.