Hutt City election a lacklustre affair
Running trains into the central city, is the only issue to have generated interest in the Hutt City Council election.
The idea came from mayoral candidate Phil Stratford and although it was not new, it at least breathed life in to what has been a lacklustre campaign. Stratford believed trains in southern High Street would bring more people into the area, who would be followed by investors, apartments and cafes.
In an election where there is in fact a lot at stake, it is hard to pin- point why interest is so low.
As well as the rapidly declining central business district, flood control remains a major issue.
The future of run-down shopping centres in Naenae and Wainuiomata, the Cross Valley Link and the Melling Interchange are also issues that need addressing. Of the other mayoral candidates, James Anderson has been almost invisible.
Glenda Barrett is running for the mayoralty in order to raise her profile in the Eastern Ward, where she is in a tough scrap with Lisa Bridson and Roger Styles.
Based in Wainuiomata, David Smith has been busy on Facebook pontificating on everything from home detention to Wellington City’s deal with Singapore Airlines.
Incumbent Ray Wallace is promising to finish the work started by the current council to rejuvenate the city with projects like the events centre, Fraser Park Sportsville and Riddiford Gardens upgrade.
The real interest may come in who will be deputy mayor. With two councillors retiring and a third – one of Margaret Cousins, Chris Milne and Max Shierlaw facing defeat in the Western Ward – new faces are guaranteed.
The race for seats in the Harbour Ward – where Michael Lullich has won by the narrowest of margins in the last two elections – and Northern Ward look to be wide open.
Wallace could end up with a majority of councillors not supporting his leadership and the major projects he supports. In that scenario, he might not get to choose his deputy.
That is why he has endorsed a group of so called ‘‘independents’’ in a move that has seriously antagonised some of the other candidates.
* The deadline for voting is noon on Saturday, October 8. Electoral Officer Bruce Hodgins said voting papers could be mailed up to Wednesday. From Thursday onwards, he suggested hand delivering voting papers to any of the council libraries or booths at the Walter Nash Centre and the council’s admin building in Laings Road. A provisional result will be available mid Saturday afternoon.