What I am currently working on.

Infrastructure and core services

A lot of Council work comes back to the basics: pipes, roads, footpaths, stormwater, wastewater, public buildings, parks, and community facilities.

• Making sure renewals and maintenance are not pushed too far down the road.
• Understanding the real cost of delaying infrastructure work.
• Asking whether projects are properly scoped and prioritised.
• Making sure long-term assets are funded in a sensible way.
• Keeping residents informed about what work is needed and why.

Dunedin has big infrastructure challenges. We need to be honest about them, plan properly, and avoid pretending that doing nothing is free.

Rates, budgets, and affordability

Rates are a real pressure for households and businesses. Council still has to pay for core services and look after the assets the city depends on, so the hard part is balancing affordability now with the cost of underinvestment later.

• Understanding where ratepayer money is going.
• Questioning spending where the value is not clear.
• Supporting transparency around major cost drivers.
• Looking at debt, capital spending, and long-term financial risk.
• Making sure residents get plain-English explanations, not just budget tables.

South Dunedin, flooding, and resilience

South Dunedin is one of the most important long-term issues facing the city. There are difficult conversations ahead about flooding, stormwater, groundwater, infrastructure, housing, insurance, transport, and adaptation over time.

• Residents need good information early.
• Council needs to be upfront about risks and options.
• Affected communities must be treated with respect.
• Decisions need to be based on evidence, not panic or politics.
• We need to understand both the human impact and the infrastructure reality.

Local government reform

There is ongoing discussion about the future structure of local government in Otago, including the possibility of a unitary authority. Structural reform can sound simple on paper, but the detail matters.

• Will local communities still have a strong voice?
• What would happen to regional and local responsibilities?
• What would the transition cost?
• Would services actually improve?
• Would decision-making become clearer or more distant?
• How would Dunedin residents be represented?

Transparency and Council process

One of my ongoing priorities is helping residents understand how Council actually works. A lot of frustration comes from people not knowing when decisions are being made, where to find the information, or how to have a say before it is too late.

• Explaining major agenda items in plain English.
• Highlighting consultations and submission opportunities.
• Breaking down Council reports and recommendations.
• Being clear about what councillors can and cannot do.
• Encouraging better public access to information.

Local business and the city economy

Dunedin needs local businesses to succeed. They create jobs, support families, bring life into the city, and help fund community activity.

• Local shops and hospitality.
• Trades and service businesses.
• Parking and access.
• Events and visitor activity.
• City centre planning.
• Procurement and local suppliers.
• Regulatory burden and process delays.

Transport, access, and safety

Transport decisions should start with a practical question: how do people actually need to move around Dunedin?

• Road condition and maintenance.
• Footpaths and accessibility.
• Parking and loading access.
• Public transport connections.
• Safe walking and cycling routes.
• Emergency and service vehicle access.
• The impact on residents and businesses.

Technology and better Council systems

My background is in technology and practical problem-solving, so I take a close interest in how Council uses systems, data, security, and digital tools.

• Better access to public information.
• Clearer online service pathways.
• Cybersecurity and system resilience.
• Staff productivity and better internal tools.
• Using AI carefully to help explain public documents.
• Making Council processes easier for residents to navigate.

Community voice

I want residents to feel they can raise issues before decisions are locked in. That does not mean everyone will always get the outcome they want, but people should be able to understand the process, see the options, and know how to have their say.

• Earlier public engagement.
• Better explanations of options.
• Respectful consultation.
• Making submissions easier to understand.
• Listening to residents, not just ticking a process box.
• Helping people find the right way to raise an issue.