Ex Hamilton by-election candidates speak up

Former Hamilton by-election candidate Chris Rollitt. Photo / Facebook

Four former by-election candidates have had their say on the council's 10-year plan.

Chris Rollitt, Deborah Fisher, Matthew Small and Mano Manoharan all ran in the by-election held after councillor Phillip Yeung died.

Ms Fisher called out the council's expensive projects, saying that they do have a part to play in the proposed 20 per cent rates increase.

"Future growth and development does contribute to the proposed increase and you have chosen the most expensive option," Ms Fisher said.

"The majority of residents cannot afford the sort of increase you want."

Ms Fisher said the council should put aside many of the proposed big-cost projects in the 10-year plan to lower the rates rise.

"Your priority should not be growth at all costs, because if you listen hard enough you will hear people screaming the cost is too high."

Mr Rollitt spoke as an individual after a submission on behalf of the Hamilton East Community Trust. He spoke critically of the central city park which he was opposed too.

"Council money — our money — is being used for this folly," Mr Rollitt said.

He said council should be concerned that they could be left holding the baby again with the Waikato Regional Theatre, much like the Claudelands Event Centre. He was also critical of the city's current transport network.

"Our city is becoming harder and harder to get around yet we are doing little to enhance the connections to key areas via alternatives forms of transport. I am a keen and active cyclist, but I won't cycle down Clyde Street. I am just not that brave."

Mr Manoharan said the new regional theatre should be at the current Founders Theatre site.

"The majority of the people want that," Mr Manoharan said. "We have the land there that belongs to council.

"Why should we buy more land where there is no car park. Elderly citizens can't walk all the way through Hood St where the night clubs and strip clubs are."

Matthew Small, the youngest candidate of the by-election, said that Garden Place should not be redeveloped, but have more activities in the area.

"I think there is too much of a high expectation that during the day when people are working, it just can't be packed," Mr Small said.

He also wanted council to consider the idea of selling Claudelands Event Centre.

"We are losing $9 million a year with it or we could put a for sale sign out there or we could look into a private/public partnership."