KEY POINTS:
Waitakere will continue a drive for growth under the election policies of Mayor Bob Harvey or his main rival, former MP John Tamihere.
Mr Harvey says he wants to continue building the city around the Massey/Westgate area where he says 15,000 jobs will be created. He aims to create more jobs in film-making and industries such as boat building and tourism. He is also enthusiastic about the opportunities for employment and cheaper travel that will arise if Whenuapai Air Base becomes Auckland's second international airport.
"With the Auckland region promoting itself as a world-class city it must have more than one airport and with 500,000 people living within 15km of Whenuapai there's a very logical answer," said Mr Harvey.
A supporter of the airport idea since it was floated, Mr Tamihere says people want real jobs in west Auckland rather than just a good transport system to take 40,000 of them out of the city to work. "I can see huge opportunities in promoting small-medium size business enterprise. It's where our future lies. We have to turbo-charge getting greater diversification."
Both men promise to take a strong role in the upcoming "super city" debate. This includes trying to persuade the Commission of Inquiry into Auckland to take the Avondale peninsula from Auckland City and add the rich rating and industrial area to Waitakere City. Mr Harvey also wants to push out northwest toward the Kaipara Harbour, embracing the Te Henga and Muriwai communities.
He describes as one of the highlights of the year the regional government decision to shift the city's metropolitan urban limit in the north to enlarge the Massey/Westgate area and include rural Hobsonville. The council has bought 15ha of land in the former Hobsonville air base to develop a cluster of marine industries which Mr Harvey says will be "my San Diego".
The cost of coping with growth is a serious issue to be confronted by new council. The rates requirement has risen by 21.42 per cent in the past three years and an average value home is now paying $1680, including wastewater charges.
Mr Tamihere says he is concerned about the council's mounting debt, noting that the council is meeting tonight to authorise the chief executive to borrow to a maximum gross debt of $466.418 million in 2007-08.
Mr Harvey says his 15 years as mayor has been one of investment in people, with four new libraries, a stadium and job creation projects.
"I think the building period is over and we are more conscious that we must hold the rates. We are proud that this year we have had the lowest rate rise in Auckland. I'm lobbying the Government to take GST off rates."
Mr Tamihere says he will mount a "safer streets" campaign and a "Proud to be a Westie" campaign. He is keen to acknowledge the role that volunteer sports and other organisations can play in making a positive change in youth behaviour and also the "huge energy and sense of ownership out there to take responsibility for their streets and their families".
