The Roxburgh and Districts Lions club organised a meeting for Teviot Valley Community Board candidates as well as the two standing for the Teviot ward seat on the Central Otago District Council — Curtis Pannett and Mark Quinn — and the three mayoral candidates — incumbent Tamah Alley, Charlie Sanders and Mr Quinn.
Mr Pannett said the Teviot was a prosperous area and had been good to him and his family for years.
Demands on council were greater now than ever before and his time on the community board had opened his eyes to the tightrope the council walked between providing services and paying for them, he said.
Mr Pannett was seconded to the community board in December following the resignation of Russell Read. The proximity to next month’s elections meant a by-election was avoided.
Teviot had been hit with big rate increases, and the council needed to diversify its income beyond ratepayers, he said.
Managing the transition of water services to the new council-controlled organisation would require the council to ensure there was strong and competent governance in the new organisation coupled with a plan to capitalise the organisation with the frugal amount of capital to allow it to function without being grandiose.
In contrast Mr Quinn said he would get rid of the CCO and retain water assets within the council.
He spoke as one of the mayoral candidates at the meeting and did not specifically refer to Teviot Valley matters.
Sitting community board members Mark Jessop and Gill Booth had differing views.
Ms Booth wanted to defund Local Government New Zealand and was concerned about a coming ‘‘tsunami of debt’’.
Mr Jessop said $6 million of rates were raised from the Teviot and should be spent there.
He also wanted to see community housing for elderly residents and rates reduction to match water bills.
New candidates Sue Cain, Becky Slade, Hayden Smith and Richard Tamblyn all spoke of their connection and passion for their community
Mrs Cain said she was involved in many community activities but would always do anything she committed to.
Ms Slade’s work as a legal executive meant deciphering red tape was her bread and butter. The Teviot community punched above its weight and she would make ‘‘damn sure we are heard’’.
Mr Smith said he could not have established his transport business without the support of the Teviot Valley and he was grateful for that. The community board was an essential link between the community and council. Community engagement would be his top priority if elected, he said.
Mr Tamblyn said keeping rates down while meeting water supply obligations was going to be a challenge in the coming years. He wanted to see the community’s services — the medical trust, rest-home, pool and hall — supported by the board.
