Dr. Eric Chuah Will Be Running For Auckland Mayoralty, Ward (North Shore), And Kaipatiki Local Board
Dr. Eric Chuah as Independent candidate, combines academic teaching/research in psychology, sociology and business, policy development for Immigration policy(legislated in German Parliament 2020). with problem-solving consulting experience. He will provide pragmatic Action Plans to create and implement strategic vision for better delivery of local council services, minimize increase in rates, reduce unnecessary council spending and ensure safer policing and noise control for local residents and businesses.
Locally he has proposed a 'community sharing' approach to solve the dog lovers vs. mums/dads with kids use of North Shores by simply adopting a successful approach adopted by Melbourne Council where dog lovers walking their dogs can do so from 3-5 pm and the rest of the public any time before and after. This was successfully implemented in Aspendale suburb of Auckland and save tremendous fencing costs in the millions which a faction of Auckland Councilors are proposing currently as a solution.
Another solution he proposes if he wins an Auckland Council seat is not to ban helipads as proposed by some Auckland Councilors as it discriminates one section of the Auckland Community assuming they are 'rich folks' As the noise pollution created by purported incessant flights could be that of our respected police and rescue community protecting and saving lives.
The solution would be to liaise with the various stakeholders to observe flight rules, where flights across high density populated residential and suburban areas under Auckland Council Unitary Plan must not be less than 500 Sq. ft., where if so, a fine of $10000 is incurred. Flight paths can be organized by Auckland Airport Flight Control, Auckland Council and various flight users, private and public across 'body of waters' for safer flights while addressing noise pollution. With the proviso of 'incident base' policing and rescue flights being exempted unless it happens every day, say from 3-5 am being used as a 'short cut' after work flight path creating sleep deprivation amongst local residents affecting those having to work early without proper rest which could affect their driving and endanger lives.
He will investigate the overspend in rode cones which is for 'temporary traffic management' for repairs and maintenance. In Auckland Central there has been a section of a road clogging traffic for 8 over years costing council, ratepayers and renters $15000 monthly (100 cones x $5.00 Nz per cone x 12 month x 8) and $14.4 million. Extrapolate that to North Shore and Northcote (at least 3 areas) that would be approximately $50 million x 10 more Auckland council wards/boards that would reach $500 million of council spending, translated to a cost saving of approximately $250-$300 off, the current average rates of $4000 which is shocking. 'Who says rates rises cannot be mitigated and even reduced? I question that'.
As a Lion Clubs/RSA and Salvation Army member, he states, 'Serving locally requires a balanced nonpartisan approach eschewing left/right politics focused on cost savings, reducing unnecessary and exorbitant spending to ensure cost of living issues area addressed for all Aucklanders.'
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RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
Auckland councillor tries again to ban helicopters in residential areas
Auckland richlisters Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams' newly built house on Rawene Avenue. Photo: RNZ/Maia Ingoe Residential helipads will once again be the topic of conversation at Auckland Council. Waitematā and Gulf Ward councillor Mike Lee has confirmed he'll be putting forward a Notice of Motion to ban helicopters in residential areas at Wednesday's Policy and Planning Committee. It follows news this week that Auckland billionaire couple Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams' approval to build a helipad at their Westmere home, will be challenged at the Environment Court. This is the second time Lee has tried to prohibit helipads in residential areas, his motion last year losing by two votes. "Well, it'll be a close-run thing, and so who knows what the outcome really will be." "In some ways, the odds are rather stacked against getting any change, because not only will we have to persuade the elected members, the members of the governing body, the councillors, to agree with us. "Unfortunately, we'll be having to deal with the senior planning staff who are opposed to any change to the system, particularly adverse to the idea of making helipads in residential areas a prohibited activity. "So we're going to have our work cut out for us, but we have the community, the overwhelming majority of the community, supporting this," Lee said. But he said "staff advice" would be the biggest obstacle in getting his motion across the line. "The biggest challenge will be the council officers, the council planners, who seem to have a philosophic opposition to prohibited activity. "Prohibited activity for certain activities are in the Auckland Unitary Plan. Helipads, for instance, in Sydney are a prohibited activity in all residential zones and business zones. Prohibited activity is in the Resource Management Act, it's been there since 1991. "Despite all the reforms, upteam reforms of RMA, that virtually every government since 1991 has undertaken, prohibited activity, Section 87D, remains in the Act for very good reason." He said all three local boards in his ward (Waitematā, Waiheke Island and the Aotea, Great Barrier Island local board areas) backed the move. Lee will also have the support of Whau councillor Kerrin Leoni who said she believed public sentiment from Aucklanders was predominately in their corner. For example, according to Auckland Council, of 1397 written submissions made on the helipad application by Auckland richlisters Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams, most - 1227, or 87 percent - opposed the helipad on Rawene Avenue in Westmere. One-hundred-and-eight were supportive, and 12 were neutral. "I think we need to make a strong stance on that and I'm definitely supporting Mike Lee's notice of motion," Leoni said. "Rich people that are coming into our city and treating it like it's a playground. I mean, it's just unacceptable. "We just can't let our city be seen as a playground for the rich listers to come in and do as they please, there should be some rules around that. "Apparently there are public helipads within 15 minutes or I think half an hour at least from everyone's address across the city. So why can't we use those instead of everyone having to have private ones? "I know there's definitely a lot of support and I'm sure there'll be a lot of people there to support the notice of motion and in the galleries as well." Among them will be members from Quiet Sky Waitematā who this week filed an appeal to the Environment Court in an attempt to block Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams from flying a private helicopter from their multi-million-dollar Westmere property. That's despite independent hearing commissioners appointed by Auckland Council approving the couple's controversial resource consent application for a private helipad in June. "We will have representatives from Quiet Sky who will be presenting a petition of over 4100 signatures to the councillors, letting them know about how Auckland feels about banning private use helicopters in residential areas," said spokesperson Elena Keith. "Paris, Los Angeles, New York, Sydney, Melbourne, none of them allow private helicopters in the city. "This is a very backward move. It's not the city that we want. I don't think it's a city that Auckland ratepayers want," Keith said. RNZ contacted Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray's lawyer for comment ahead of the motion of notice and the appeal in the Environment Court. While there was no response, the couple have said in the media that they were deeply disappointed with the legal challenge and the cost to public resources it will use. Lee said part of the reason behind his motion was to provide more certainty for people like them. "Under the law, the way it is now, they have every right to apply for a helipad and obviously they've spent a lot of money through this process. "Clearly they're extremely disappointed that the local residents are going to appeal. They're disappointed, but they shouldn't be surprised."
RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
Auckland councillor trys again to ban helicopters in residential areas
Auckland richlisters Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams' newly built house on Rawene Avenue. Photo: RNZ/Maia Ingoe Residential helipads will once again be the topic of conversation at Auckland Council. Waitematā and Gulf Ward councillor Mike Lee has confirmed he'll be putting forward a Notice of Motion to ban helicopters in residential areas at Wednesday's Policy and Planning Committee. It follows news this week that Auckland billionaire couple Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams' approval to build a helipad at their Westmere home, will be challenged at the Environment Court. This is the second time Lee has tried to prohibit helipads in residential areas, his motion last year losing by two votes. "Well, it'll be a close-run thing, and so who knows what the outcome really will be." "In some ways, the odds are rather stacked against getting any change, because not only will we have to persuade the elected members, the members of the governing body, the councillors, to agree with us. "Unfortunately, we'll be having to deal with the senior planning staff who are opposed to any change to the system, particularly adverse to the idea of making helipads in residential areas a prohibited activity. "So we're going to have our work cut out for us, but we have the community, the overwhelming majority of the community, supporting this," Lee said. But he said "staff advice" would be the biggest obstacle in getting his motion across the line. "The biggest challenge will be the council officers, the council planners, who seem to have a philosophic opposition to prohibited activity. "Prohibited activity for certain activities are in the Auckland Unitary Plan. Helipads, for instance, in Sydney are a prohibited activity in all residential zones and business zones. Prohibited activity is in the Resource Management Act, it's been there since 1991. "Despite all the reforms, upteam reforms of RMA, that virtually every government since 1991 has undertaken, prohibited activity, Section 87D, remains in the Act for very good reason." He said all three local boards in his ward (Waitematā, Waiheke Island and the Aotea, Great Barrier Island local board areas) backed the move. Lee will also have the support of Whau councillor Kerrin Leoni who said she believed public sentiment from Aucklanders was predominately in their corner. For example, according to Auckland Council, of 1397 written submissions made on the helipad application by Auckland richlisters Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams, most - 1227, or 87 percent - opposed the helipad on Rawene Avenue in Westmere. One-hundred-and-eight were supportive, and 12 were neutral. "I think we need to make a strong stance on that and I'm definitely supporting Mike Lee's notice of motion," Leoni said. "Rich people that are coming into our city and treating it like it's a playground. I mean, it's just unacceptable. "We just can't let our city be seen as a playground for the rich listers to come in and do as they please, there should be some rules around that. "Apparently there are public helipads within 15 minutes or I think half an hour at least from everyone's address across the city. So why can't we use those instead of everyone having to have private ones? "I know there's definitely a lot of support and I'm sure there'll be a lot of people there to support the notice of motion and in the galleries as well." Among them will be members from Quiet Sky Waitematā who this week filed an appeal to the Environment Court in an attempt to block Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams from flying a private helicopter from their multi-million-dollar Westmere property. That's despite independent hearing commissioners appointed by Auckland Council approving the couple's controversial resource consent application for a private helipad in June. "We will have representatives from Quiet Sky who will be presenting a petition of over 4100 signatures to the councillors, letting them know about how Auckland feels about banning private use helicopters in residential areas," said spokesperson Elena Keith. "Paris, Los Angeles, New York, Sydney, Melbourne, none of them allow private helicopters in the city. "This is a very backward move. It's not the city that we want. I don't think it's a city that Auckland ratepayers want," Keith said. RNZ contacted Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray's lawyer for comment ahead of the motion of notice and the appeal in the Environment Court. While there was no response, the couple have said in the media that they were deeply disappointed with the legal challenge and the cost to public resources it will use. Lee said part of the reason behind his motion was to provide more certainty for people like them. "Under the law, the way it is now, they have every right to apply for a helipad and obviously they've spent a lot of money through this process. "Clearly they're extremely disappointed that the local residents are going to appeal. They're disappointed, but they shouldn't be surprised."
RNZ News
14 hours ago
- RNZ News
Dog owners granted temporary reprive over off-leash ban at popular Auckland park
Auckland Council proposed dog access changes at the park after dogs were off-leash in areas they shouldn't be. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Dog owners advocating for an off-leash area at a popular Auckland park have been granted a last minute reprieve - for now. The High Court has granted an interim order allowing dogs to run off-leash in the bowl area of Monte Cecilia Park. It will continue until a judicial review is heard into a decision by the Puketāpapa Local Board to ban off-leash dogs there as of next Friday. The board voted four to two in favour of removing it after concerns were raised about owners letting dogs run free in areas where they were meant to be on-leash. It is part of a wider plan to review dog rules at parks and beaches. Acting chairperson of Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia, Shireen Chua, told Checkpoint they were feeling a range of emotions in light of the decision. "There is a sense of elation, excitement, gratitude. Our community has another day getting together, walking our parks and the Monte Cecilia bowl." However, the victory is only temporary, with the High Court hearing now looming. "The process from here is that the Auckland Council will have the opportunity to send through their statement of defence and that will come through by August. And then we will have a hearing in the High Court." Chua said the group's decision to push back against the council came down to a number of reasons. "We didn't feel heard, seen or respected. The decision that the local board took went against internal staff advice. Eighty-percent of public feedback in the strong community that was there were not heard. "We felt that the decision was predetermined and it was made in contrary to the council's dog policy and also in breach of the council's obligations under the Local Government Act." When the group took its argument to the council Chua said it consisted of about 1000 members, a number which has jumped to 1200 over the past few weeks. "Predominantly it started with a whole group of us in the community here, but it's got broader than that now. "Other dog owners in other parts of other areas have started to go, 'hey, I guess this is a really sort of important topic for all of us'." Currently the cost of judicial review has been funded by members of the community, with the legal fees being covered pro bono. "We intend to raise funds in order to fund the remaining part of the Judicial Review and we have got a whole bunch of folks from the community who are selling coffee for the Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia." The group has also received support from a dog groomer who is contributing $10 towards the judicial review for anyone that takes their dog to be groomed, as well as a Givealittle page. One of the reasons Auckland Council proposed dog access changes at the park was due to dogs being off-leash in areas of the park where they should already be on-leash. But Chua said since the review, the group had seen a slow shift in compliance, and was now issuing a plea to members to stick to the rules. "As responsible dog owners, we do want to comply with the law. "We hope to eventually also initiate a social say the park is for everyone and we want that to be the case." General manager of Policy at Auckland Council, Louise Mason, told Checkpoint that as the decision was before the court, Auckland Council could not comment at this time. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
