Viewpoint – Safety a key concern

We have had a challenging start to the year with extreme weather and rain that took out infrastructure and flooded homes and businesses. Many homes lost power for weeks and we had homes both yellow and red stickered. I’m proud of the way our community responded to support and help one another.

It became apparent to me very early in the first flooding event as roads closed, power lines came down and houses flooded, trapping residents, that both the central and local government command and control system was missing in action. This has been reinforced by the recent report headed up by retired police commissioner Mike Bush. 

I want to acknowledge acting Police Area Commander Roger Small, acting Police District Commander Inspector Matt Laurenson, Shaun Pilgrim and Don McErlich of Fire and Emergency NZ, St John senior leader Andy Everiss, and Faron Turner, from Surf Lifesaving NZ, for coming together and recognising very quickly that we needed a local response. The Silverdale Fire Station was established as a local command and control centre – St John had its mobile control unit there and Ōrewa and Red Beach surf lifesaving clubs had SAR teams, IRBs and rescue equipment based at the fire station. This provided a strong local response which meant the right people were at the right place, at the right time, when a hand went up for help.

Unfortunately, we are not immune to the crime wave happening across the country and I’m working hard with Police, Councillors, the local board and community to come up with local solutions to keep us safe. I have the Police portfolio in Opposition and will continue to put pressure on the Government and push solutions forward. 

Recently, Destination Ōrewa Beach hosted a public safety meeting for local retailers and business owners (HM April 3). Inspector Matt Laurenson attended and received strong feedback in terms of rising retail crime, frustrations with the 105 reporting line and under reporting of incidents due to a low level of confidence that there would be a Police response. Nationally,police are dealing with a 33 percent increase in violent crime, 41 percent increase in victimisations, over 500 percent increase in ram raids, a 61 percent increase in gang numbers and a 60 percent increase in mental health call-outs. They want to, and should, respond to a call for help but are often stretched beyond capacity. 

An increase in disorder and assaults at the Silverdale bus station (HM May 1) has prompted me to call a public meeting to work on restoring order and making it a safe place to use public transport (see story p3).

I have been very busy dealing with housing issues in the electorate. Two emergency housing locations on Hibiscus Coast Highway in Ōrewa have been creating major social issues and, in my view, tying up too much Police resource. This is not acceptable on any level, and I am working with Government agencies to find a solution.

I have also been working closely with the Bonair Action Group in relation to the use of land Kainga Ora purchased in Bonair Crescent without any consultation with the community. We want to be able to provide for the housing needs of people in our community, especially for our children, but it has to be the right type of housing that sets up success for everyone and not a one size fits all approach that can import disorder and violence into a community. We saw this in Weir Lane with the arrival of the Mongrel Mob.

After a meeting in my office with Kainga Ora CEO Andrew McKenzie and the Bonair Action Group, the development was put on hold until much wider and deeper community consultation has taken place and a proposal that the community will support is identified.

We are in tough times at the moment and I am always available for anyone who needs any assistance, advice or help.