“I would be both humbled and privileged to be elected the MP for Mt. Albert.

As an electorate MP it would be my job to represent you the constituents of Mt. Albert.

When I first became aware of the concerns surrounding Westfield’s proposed private plan change for St. Lukes I sought a meeting with Westfield management.

Westfield outlined their plans in detail and explained that the proposals had been developed over the last two years based on customer feedback and with input from the Auckland City Council and its Urban Design Panel.

The plans involved an approximate 50 % increase in retail floor space from 49,000 meters to 75,000 meters with a further 15,000 meters of office space.

The overall height limit of the centre was also to be increased from 15 to 20 meters, with two smaller areas (4% of the total shopping area) increasing to either 30 or 40 meters. Westfield advised that these two “office tower” areas were not critical to their plans but had been suggested by the ACC. In addition new land was to be added to the centre and on the Aroha street frontage this would be developed to a height of 12.5 – 15 meters.

In addition Westfield proposed a doubling in the size of car parking and a linking of Exeter Road with Aroha Street.  Aroha Street would also have been a new entry into the expanded centre car park from Sandringham Road.

On Sunday 17 May I met local residents Graham Dekker and Elaine Gallagher-Dekker.  Graham is the Head Convener of the St. Lukes Community Association and Elaine the Convener of Communications.  The Dekker’s live in Aroha Street, like so many other members of the Association who are directly affected by the proposed redevelopment. The Dekker’s explained to me the concerns that the Association has with the proposed redevelopment. These include:

 1. substantial increase in traffic on the   quiet pedestrian neighborhood,

2. commercial development facing directly onto Aroha Street,

3. and a lack of Landscaping/mitigation on the interface between Aroha Street and the shopping centre.

I understand the Association’s concerns and I think they are very reasonable. I was particularly impressed  to hear from the Dekker’s that most members of the Association  are not opposed to the whole development per se, but  are concerned only to ensure that their properties are not unduly affected.

I undertook to raise this issue with the Mayor John Banks and I was surprised to learn that I was the first person to bring this issue to his attention.

Mr. Banks immediately proposed a meeting with himself, his officials and a small number of representatives of the Association to discuss this issue and attempt to resolve the Association's concerns. Mr. Banks was concerned to ensure that the residents concerns were clearly understood.   

I am committed to helping the residents try to resolve these potential problems.

I have also been able to advise the Dekkers that the Ministry for the Environment offers a legal aid scheme offering up to $20,000 to assist in cases such as this and have arranged for the Association to be sent information on it.

I feel this is illustrative example of how I can help the citizens of the Mt. Albert electorate.

I know the Mayor well enough to have his mobile phone number. I am also know him well enough to be able to get in to see him and his officials, and more importantly to be able to arrange for representatives of those directly affected to do the same.

Mr. Banks explained to me he had been instrumental in negotiating a settlement between the residents immediately adjacent to Eden Park and the Eden Park Trust Board regarding the current redevelopment and he was optimistic he might be able to do the same in this instance.   

I have a record of standing up for the rights of others. I defended our right to free speech in my campaign against the Electoral Finance Bill. More recently since coming to parliament I have taken a stand for those who have lost their life's savings in finance company collapses.

This by- election will not change the government and so electors are free to elect an MP who can be a strong, credible and effective representative for them and their community. 

I believe they can vote for me, John Boscawen, with confidence.