Mayoral forum big on promises

Auckland Mayor Len Brown heard concerns from a group of around 45 locals at an open forum held at Orewa Arts & Events Centre on July 27 and promised to look further into issues raised and assist where possible.

Representatives of community groups, ratepayers’ associations and local business attended the forum, raising issues such as Penlink, funding for Estuary Arts Centre and roading.

The mayor began the meeting with a 20-minute overview of his vision for Auckland, which included better public transport, investing in arts and culture, “cleaning up” the city before the Rugby World Cup and improving pedestrian access in the central city.

During the hour of public question time that followed, transport was a major point of discussion. Mayor Brown promised that the Penlink Rd would be included in Auckland Council’s Long Term Council Community Plan, and said that a public private partnership was likely to be what would get the road off the starting blocks.

He also promised to assist the Hibiscus Coast Community House’s foodbank by looking for businesses that could support it with food donations, and even said he would fix a driveway for an elderly Silverdale resident, which was damaged by turning trucks, “even if I have to do a Tim Shadbolt and get out the concrete mixer myself”.

Local board chair Julia Parfitt closed the meeting, thanking Mayor Brown for holding the forum and saying “we now look forward to seeing you deliver on what’s been promised tonight”.

Image: From top, Mayor Len Brown addressed an open forum in Orewa last month. Henry Tan of BikeMe puts his case for cycling in Orewa.