Noel Peterson

Noel. J. Peterson taking a break from the campaign trail at home in the garden.

I have over the last decade been actively involved in Local Government, regularly making submissions regarding Environmental, Transport, and Social issues and have gained an excellent insight and knowledge into the workings of Councils. I see the need for Free Basic Core Services; and oppose squandering ratepayer money on luxury projects. I am opposed to the Museum over the water project, Council funded stadium, and various other dubious projects that need to be stopped and more cost effective options looked at. We need to investigate the Strategic Partner concept carefully; it lacks transparency. The future appears challenging; and I would provide down to earth and commonsense governance, with a clear understanding of our Environment, Social Needs, People and Community.

• I am a 54 year old Tauranga born Environmentalist, employed as a Community Support Person by IHC for the last 24 years.
  
  
• I live in Tauranga and work at Mt Maunganui.
  
  
• I hold certificates in Horticultural Management and Human Services.
  
  
• I am currently Chairperson of Tauranga Harbourwatch Incorporated and Regional Candidate for Tauranga Ratewatch Team.
  
  
• I will stand firmly against selling $200 million dollars of Port of Tauranga shares.
  
  
• As Ratepayers; by way of the Regional Council, you are the majority shareholders and to lose control of this Strategic Asset and to sell it off to build $30 million dollar roads across swampland which is currently productive pasture is hardly caring for the Environment. It is apparently to fund other unspecified Regional infrastructure, this must be stopped now; spending your money without consulting you properly is not on.
  
  
• Caring for Land Sea and Water is what Regional Council is charged to be responsible for, not state highways; which are the responsibility of Central Government.
  
  
• Don’t keep any of the sitting Councillors who are involved in this pillage of your Strategic Assets on for another term.
  
  
• I have over the last decade been involved in local Government, regularly making submissions regarding Environmental, Transport, and Social issues and have gained an excellent insight and knowledge into the workings of Councils; gaining a particularly good Regional perspective.
  
  
• I have looked closely at Regional and Local Transport needs and have some positive ideas that could solve our current transport challenges and future proof our transport needs into the next Century.
  
  
• I have an extensive working knowledge of Natural History and Natural Sciences; especially Ecology, Biodiversity & Sustainability, and have advised and researched for the Natural History Section of Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand for the last 40 years!
  
  
• A well known Recycling Specialist, with a team of dedicated People established Bay City Bottles over 20 years ago. This Community Recycling Centre has gained several Environmental Sustainability awards from Regional Council, and supports Zero waste Policy, of Reuse, Recycle, and Reduce.
  
  
• I am past Resident Custodian Frank Sydenham Gardens for 21 years; this land is now the proposed Tauranga Botanic Community Garden site.
  
  
• I have travelled the Bay of Plenty Region extensively; and have a good knowledge of the History, Environment, and Communities of the Region.
  
  
• I am totally opposed to Damming the Kaituna River as Todd Energy hopes to do, under the innocent sounding name of Bay of Plenty Electricity .This area below Okere Falls is an outstanding pristine area of Crown Land.
  It will be lost as a Tourist and Major Rafting venue forever to gain a meagre amount of Electricity.

As an upcoming Regional Council candidate I and others take exception to a Regional Councillor electioneering in his investment strategies column, touting Regional Council issues which have nothing to do with the business of Stocks and Shares.

This appears to be brazenly unfair; other candidates and I suggest he refrains from using his business interests to promote his Council folly.

To squander ratepayer’s money moving “our headquarters” to Tauranga is to us ridiculous.

Spend this money on more pressing and basic issues like public transport.

To quote this stockbrokers column; “From a Regional Council standpoint Eastern BOP continues its campaign of misinformation regarding our headquarters shift”.

Just who is misinforming who Councillor?

Noel Peterson
Tauranga.

To quote: “The impact on ratepayers by shifting will be about $1 per Ratepayer from 2010/2011”

To move a multimillion dollar headquarters and Staff from Whakatane to some unknown, unspecified site somewhere in the Tauranga Region for a couple of dollars per Ratepayer is unbelievable.

Regional Ratepayers in Whakatane, Rotorua, and Opotiki don’t believe it and here in Tauranga when the truth about this is known we won’t either.

How about some facts publicly on this Councillor though we don’t need your “Project HQ” sales pitch and spin.

This unnecessary dislocation of communities and multimillion dollar Council spending spree is not wanted.

Noel Peterson
Tauranga