I attended the first meet the candidates evening last week and found it illuminating and entertaining, although not many won my vote. Some were ill-prepared, others downright dreadful but a few spoke with passion about Whanganui. It was helpful in terms of knowing who I won't be voting for, at least.
One of the candidate questions was quite rightly about reducing debt, particularly with the $20 million-plus albatross of a wastewater treatment plant around our necks. As an aside, this albatross expression comes from the 18th Century poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, in which the mariner in question shoots an albatross and is forced to carry the bird around his neck as his burden.
To continue on a conservation tangent, I'm concerned about the number of threatened NZ sea lions killed in the sub-Antarctic fisheries in the first three weeks of the season so far 16 as of last week. The average deaths per season for the past decade were only three. So what's changed? Independent observers are now compulsory on all fishing boats. It's hard not be cynical and assume under-reporting in previous years.
Back on track solutions for managing debt and reducing rate rises in Whanganui. There were some good ones raised at the first candidates' evening with the sensible point made that reducing spending is only part of the answer increasing income through population growth is also necessary.
Many said a review of the council's economic development unit was critical, and involving our successful businesses and marketing experts to guide new campaigns. Using our growing reputation as a technically-connected city was highlighted bringing in small entrepreneurs who can work anywhere. Adding value to primary produce in the wider district was raised too, with Hamish McDouall noting that arts sector was part of our primary production.
