Questions submitted to all WDC candidates for reply by 22 August.
- Do you support the flood diversion scheme for North Clyde recommended by Crown Manager Lawrence Yule, the Regional Council and current Wairoa Council?
- Name 2-3 specific WDC projects, policies or spends over the past three years with which you personally disagree.
- What Council spending or other initiatives would you support to improve Wairoa’s economic well-being?
- Unlike Napier, Hastings and CHB Councils (who are forming a joint water entity), Wairoa Council has decided to ‘go it alone’ with respect to delivering water services. Do you agree?
- Most WDC debt relates to the need to maintain and improve its water assets, with significant improvement required. Should WDC step up its borrowing to make these improvements?
- WDC current policy aims to limit rate increases to 5%. But this assumed WDC joined a regional water services entity, off-loading current debt and borrowing costs, which it has now declined to do (as noted above). Do you believe WDC rate increases can be kept to 5%? How?
- Do you believe councils’ rates should be ‘capped’ by legislation?
- Does Hawke’s Bay need five councils, or do you support amalgamation, in any form?
- Would you support Councils appointing an independent “Hawke’s Bay Auditor General” to monitor councils’ spending and programme performance?
