Goals for the next three years

Tony Bonne WILL make a DIFFERENCE!

• Tony  will focus on rates: Efficient business practices to reduce costs.
• Tony will promote sustainable growth: Our district is a remarkable place to live and with well managed growth across all sectors this will help our district to thrive and become vibrant.
• Tony will focus on promotion and development of the District. This will include residential, tourism, commercial and industrial development because more people equals increased job opportunities and more services which makes an active vibrant community and most importantly rates will be shared amongst more people and businesses.
• Tony will bring back effective decision making to the elected members: There will be transparency and accountability from your council and its elected members.

Tony Bonne is proud to live in the Whakatane District. He is determined  to make Whakatane District an even better place to live, work and play by increasing opportunities and trying to lower costs. Tony Bonne has extensive business and local governance experience and alongside his enthusiasm and passion for our district he will make our place one you can continue to be proud to be living in too.

Returning sound management and accountability to the council and bring the focus back to the growth of our district and how to ease the concerns of the ratepayer.

Tony Bonne will make sure that the management of the Whakatane District Council is cost effective. Staff levels have never been higher. the use of consultants has never been so expensive. In the last year $3.6 million was spent on consultants and that is not including legal costs. Tony Bonne will make sure all aspects of council are transparent. He will create an avenue for change to ensure that your council is efficient.

Mayor Bonne will, as Mayor, improve the economy of the Whakatane District by:

Reducing the amount of money the council spends on consultants by 10% per annum over the next term - three years - of council.

Bringing governance back to the elected members. This will be undertaken by reintroducing the former committee structure to council meetings and reduce the number of workshops that are held (which are not public forums) and giving the public more reporting back on what is happening within council.

Promoting restructuring within the Whakatane District Council and expose areas where cost savings can be identified without service reduction. This includes investigating whether council is operating efficiently. He will use his business experience to achieve this.

Mayor Bonne will promote effective sustainable growth and development of the Whakatane District. Every business must grow or diversify to survive and lower the fixed costs of running a business. Your council is no different. Tony Bonne will create more opportunities for land to be zoned residential. To keep rates at affordable levels we need residential and commercial growth. He will explore the option of establishing a structure to encourage a retirement village to build in our district. He believes steadfastly in the building of a Second Bridge with planning to begin now. Promote a rates rebate scheme for non-competing businesses to establish themselves within our district where we have surplus infrastructure available for example in Taneatua and/or Murupara. This will rebuild confidence in these towns and create jobs.

Mayor Bonne will maintain the Whakatane District Council Harbour Fund in its present form. The Harbour Fund was created by former Whakatane Harbour Board to look after the harbour. This fund has assets that are money from Whakatane Harbour operations and rents from businesses that are leasing harbour land and in 2009 there was an attempt to sell these assets and place the Whakatane District Harbour Fund into council funds. As the Whakatane River is essential to the district's well being he does not believe in selling council assets unless the benefits are going to give the district a better return. This means that he will protect the fund and to do this the Whakatane District Harbour Fund Policy must be re-written to ensure the appropriate use of this fund.

Mayor Bonne will aim to strengthen Iwi partnerships. this is integral to our district's future. The council must raise the profile of the partnership with Iwi so we can all continue to move forward together. The district is steeped in history with Maori and Pakeha relations and these must be further fostered for the success of the district as an inclusive bi-cultural place to live.

 
Tony Supports youth recreational facilities

Mayor Bonne will promote a safer Whakatane District. The relationship with the Police will be maintained and a comprehensive security camera system will be installed throughout the district. This is already being investigated by council. Cameras have been proven to significantly lower deviant behaviour. Tony Bonne will ensure that it happens as you must feel safe in your district.

Mayor Bonne will support the young people of the Whakatane District. he believes that young people bring a richness and virbrancy to our community. Their input to decision making is significant and their voice must be heard. He will support the Whakatane District Youth Council and foster initiatives that will reflect their needs as these young people are the future citizens of our district.

Mayor Bonne will support the re-development of Whakatane Hospital. He believes that the hospital is essential for maintaining growth in our area. he will encourage the Bay of Plenty Health Board to enter a private/public partnership to encourage specialists to be based in Whakatane. This will ease access to healthcare for the community and creating choice for patients.

Mayor Bonne will promote our exquisite Whakatane District at every opportunity. This will be undertaken with sporting, educational, cultural, tourism, business and commercial activity that may include shows and conferences.

Mayor Bonne will encourage connections with community organisations. These organisations are essential to the inner growth and development of the community. The have a voice that must be heard on community matters and Tony Bonne will listen.

Mayor Bonne is the right person to lead your district into the future because:

• He has experience in local government
• He is a business leader
• He is involved in community organisations
• He understands people
• He is a family man