Sprey vocal about state of politics

by Louise Parry

If you’re not familiar with the name Phil Sprey, chances are you soon will be.

Phil, a Days Bay resident, is hoping to stir things up in the forthcoming local body elections. Tired of what he describes as “general apathy”, he is keen to see people step up to represent Eastbourne on Hutt City Council, and on the Eastbourne Community Board.

Drop in for a Chat

Please feel free on the 8th April 10-11am to attend a “drop in for a chat” session with me at our library in Rimu St.

Eastern Bays Shared Pathway

I asked the Mayor for his full commitment to the Shared Pathway in the last Herald edition. With strong community support for the Pathway, we should see the Mayor come out giving his commitment to completing the project. The Mayor’s support will help ensure that more than $14 million of Council money, currently in the budget, is not diverted to other cycleway projects. Council will still need to find an extra $ 2-3 million, which I support. However, we can proceed to plan B if Council does not support that. If the more than $14 million currently budgeted is safeguarded, we will have the money to start construction after the consent and appeal process is completed. Next year we could top up the budget and secure the remaining NZTA funding where needed. Annual plan decision making is unpredictable, so please offer your support by putting your ideas thorough in the annual plan process as the Community Board advises. You can also comment at Council when we make our final budget decision on 5 June.

Eastbourne Community Board Walk-about

As a Councilor, and Board member, I joined the Community Board at its annual walk-about. We traveled to meet representatives of all our resident groups to identify and discuss local issues and concerns. We appreciate the great work they do for the community and the constructive feed-back they gave us on various issues for officers to work on in the coming year.

Wild Food Challenge

It was a pleasure to attend the Local Wild Food Challenge at the Pavilion in Days Bay which the Council has supported. It is one of our biggest local events with many people enjoying wild food demonstrations, food stalls, a wild food beer garden, live art, hangi, music and a movie. The event raises the awareness of the wild food and natural ingredients we have in the Wellington Region.

Residents can contact me with their enquiries on 977-3166 (home) or 0210304561 (mobile)You can also email me at michael.lulich@huttcity.govt.nz or follow me on Facebook at: facebook.com/MichaelLulich14(Cr Michael Lulich)

Residents can contact me with their enquiries on 977-3166 (home) or 0210304561 (mobile), and you can email me at michael.lulich@huttcity.govt.nz or follow me on Facebook.

Although unwilling to confirm if he will stand as a local representative in the ? local body elections, Phil has plenty to say about the state of local politics generally, and how specifically he thinks things can be improved to provide a city with a better vision.

An outspoken critic of the council on several issues, Phil has even offered $10,000 to opponents willing to stand against Wellington Mayor Justin Lester this year.

Behind the scenes, he has been in contact with Hutt City Council senior figures over ways to boost the local economy, and, while he won't say anything on record about specifics, he does believe it's time for the Hutt to look outside its usual investments.

Phil says he gets on well with Mayor Ray Wallace, but "when one person ends up standing, that's not a democracy". Ray Wallace is only one vote around the council table.

The community board is an "archaic leftover of a previous time, and is not in touch with the voice of the community".

Phil says if he was on the community board, his first task would be to do himself out of a job.

"If I was on the community board, I would put a resolution to get rid of it."

Two full time councillors committed to each area of the ward is his preference, and they would need to have vision for their area, along with the rest of Hutt City.

This is one of Phil's major complaints about particularly the community board: he says it lacks any vision for Eastbourne and Bays.

"They spend endless time debating moving a bus stop - that's the council's job."

In public comment, Phil has asked the board members what their vision for the area is, to no avail.

"What are we? Are we a 'go to sleep retirement village' or somewhere that younger families are engaged in the community?"

"Not one of the community board members has put down on their Facebook page, or anywhere else what their vision is," he says.

The local body elections will be held this coming October, date to be advised.

Go to www.huttcity.govt.nz for more information.

The winter window is in with lots of yummy slow cooking and stewing cuts.

Hot cross buns are in store, the same great buns at the same great price at your local free range butcher.