Caroline Bay advocate joins council election
A man who has spent four decades volunteering in the community says he isn’t afraid to say what needs to be said, and has always wanted to run for the council.
Peter Bennett’s name was added to the list of candidates seeking election in the Timaru District Council’s Timaru ward for this year’s local body elections.
Bennett said his focus, if elected, would be to ensure the council works with the public.
‘‘I just want the community to be involved in projects and their processes. If the public are actively involved they don’t feel left out,’’ he said.
In July, Bennett spoke out about the council’s decision to remove the Caroline Bay paddling pool waterfall.
He said the removal was not the reason he had put his hat in the ring.
‘‘I just had a desire to do one more thing,’’ he said.
Bennett said he has experience working in a team on big projects as the chairman of the Aorangi Park Association for more than 30 years.
‘‘I started [on the committee] in 1984, when there was no cricket, football, athletics or hockey facilities.
‘‘As a young 26-year-old, I took on the role of chairman with a committee of businessmen, past prominent sportsmen and councillor representation.’’
He has also been Timaru Penguin Group co-ordinator for eight years and sees the penguins as a great way to bring visitors to Timaru.
‘‘I want to see people coming to Timaru, I want them to spend money at local shops and food places on the Bay Hill, Stafford St and in the wider Timaru area,’’ he said.
Bennett joins Allan Booth, Barbara Gilchrist, Stacey Scott, Shane Wilson and Troy Titheridge who have all been nominated in the Timaru ward, as well as Gavin Oliver and Wayne O’Donnell who have been nominated in the Geraldine ward and Michelle Pye and Scott Shannon in the Pleasant PointTemuka ward.
Nigel Bowen is seeking reelection for Timaru District mayor, and as of noon yesterday is unopposed.
The same applies to Craig Rowley, who is seeking reelection in Waimate and runs unopposed.
Jonathan Bird, John Begg and Sharyn Cain have been nominated for the Waimate ward of the Waimate District Council and join Colin Pankhurst for the Hakataramea-Waihaorunga ward, Sandy McAlwee for Pareora-Otaio-Makikihi, and Tom O’Connor for the PareoraOtaio-Makikihi ward.
In the Mackenzie District, Mark Frear has been nominated for Pukaki ward, Murray Cox for the Opuha ward, and Matt Murphy for the Takapō /Tekapo ward.
On Monday, Mackenzie became the only district in South Canterbury to have a two-way race for mayor with Anne Munro joining fellow mayoral candidate Robin McCarthy.
Peter Scott and Elizabeth McKenzie have both been nominated for Environment Canterbury’s South Canterbury constituency.
Nominations close at midday on August 12, with local body elections to be held on October 8.