Fading central city tops voters' election agenda

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Council and mayoral candidates take note: Hamilton's struggling central city is the dominant issue for voters.

The first comprehensive poll of voters' views before the October 9 council elections found the key issues for those living in the region's largest urban centre were its failing CBD, limiting rate increases, traffic and parking.

The Waikato Times Versus Research poll found the CBD was the biggest issue facing Hamilton for 32 per cent of the residents polled, then the usual subjects – rate increases (16), traffic congestion (11) and parking (11).

Council spending and debt – a key issue for the Rates Control Team (RCT) as the only ticket contesting the city elections – was nominated by just 9 per cent of respondents. Over-50s were most likely to be concerned, with 11 per cent naming it the key issue.

The biggest divergence of views was between older and younger respondents, with those under-30 far less concerned about the CBD and rates increases, and significantly more concerned about crime than over-50s.

Mayoral incumbent Bob Simcock said he believed the strong awareness of the central city's issues reflected recent media coverage, but he was delighted by the number of people wanting to contribute to that debate.

He said longer term he believed the major issue for the city was how it dealt with its rapid growth, and believed people had seen through the RCT's focus on debt, which he said was based on "shonky" information.

Rates Control Team mayoral candidate Roger Hennebry was disappointed debt had failed to feature.

The growth in the city's debt was set out in the council's annual plan and reports for all to see, he said.

"They can't get their head around it, they don't want to hear. But as from now the debt starts climbing."

He hoped a looming advertising campaign by the ticket would persuade voters of the issue's importance.

Mayoral contender Julie Hardaker said she was surprised council secrecy had not featured more strongly, and concerns over the central city reflected wider voter concern about the way the city was developing.

"I'm not hearing people say `don't increase our rates'; they're saying `spend it wisely'," she said. "People aren't averse to debt, they just want to make sure it's being incurred for the right reasons," she said.

In a similar Waikato Times poll leading up to the 2004 election, traffic topped the list with 29 per cent, then roads (23), parking (18) and rates (13).

In 2007, rates was the most important issue with 30 per cent, then roads (18), traffic congestion (17), and public transport (8) – which failed to feature at all in this year's poll.

The new poll surveyed 418 Hamilton city residents. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.8 per cent.

- © Fairfax NZ News