Economic development, ECan in candidate’s sights

A businessman and youth mentor wants a seat at the Timaru district council.

Paul Smith Earthmoving Timaru chief executive Mark Rogers, who has been confirmed as a candidate for the Timaru Ward, said he would make economic growth a priority, to encourage young people to stay in the region.

Rogers is chairman of council economic development agency Aoraki Development. He was nominated by sitting councillor Peter Burt. Rogers said he had a passion for developing the community. Mentoring teenagers through the Young Enterprise programme, which involved setting up a business and running it as a company, had been very rewarding, Rogers said.

The father-of-three was also a mnisterial appointee to the South Canterbury District Health Board.

The biggest issues facing Timaru at the moment included ECan’s log burner rules, which people were understandably upset about, he said.

‘‘ECan need to be held to account over their bureaucratic demands, and their inadequate and inefficient subsidies.’’

The district council could hopefully make a difference when it came to ECan’s policies through lobbying and representing the community’s views, he said.

Providing good infrastructure for Timaru’s ageing population was also something the town needed to get to grips with.

Rogers said he felt the current councillors had done a good job since the local body elections last year, and welcomed the questions they had put to Aoraki Development.

‘‘They work collaboratively together, and they hold the ratepayer money to account which is very positive.’’

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of councillor Tracy Tierney, who was ‘‘magnificent at thinking strategically’’, Rogers said.

Tierney left her position to be environmental services manager on the council staff.

The by-election will be held on September 5, and nominations are open until July 5.