Election candidate

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 19, 7 October 1986, Page 13

Election candidate

Errol Sue is a candidate for the Ohakune Borough Council and is at present deputy Mayor.

Hi, I'm Errol Sue. I have lived in Ohakune for over 40 years. All my schooling was in Ohakune and I now have a contracting business working in and around the district. I have served on the Ohakune Borough Council for a total of 1 1 years. In between I stood down for three years due to work commitments, but stood again for the last term of council and was chairman of the town planning committee and deputy Mayor. Spending virtually all my life in the community I have watched and have been part of Ohakune's growth and development. Perhaps this development is not what everyone wants. It has created extra costs that are reflected in the dras-

tic increases in our rates - the administration and roading programme being the biggest contributors to this. We, the ratepayers, are faced with a substantial bill for upgrading of our water supply. This unfortunately is an improvement we can no longer ignore because of pressure from the Health Department. I believe that we must move now on the water supply because we can still apply for a subsidy to cover most of the cost. The government has said that this subsidy will cease in the near future. Another major issue is " amalgamation. Amalgamation is inevitable, however differences are sorted out. My biggest belief in amalgamation, if it has to be, is that we - Ohakune Borough, Raetihi Borough and Waimaino County must unite together. We grew together - live together and must stay together. The exact savings in amalgamation are still unknown, but whatever they are I hope for a welcome reduction in rates. Apart from the extra demands, costs and sometimes inconvenience to the people and ratepayers of Ohakune, I believe that tourist development will continue to be an asset. We are a rural town that must survive. With the downturn in the economy of the rural sector, surely the tourist dollar will help prop us up. Council however, must always attempt to keep an equitable balance in costs and wherever possible protect the interests of the local people.