Disclaimer
The information on this page has been provided by the candidates. It does not reflect the views or positions of Auckland Council.
Candidate statement
Gavin is a current member of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board and lives in Devonport. Married, he has three school age children, including a son a Rosmini College. With experience in governance, Gavin previously Chaired the Board of Trustees at St Leo's Primary and has served as a Trustee on multiple charitable trusts, as well as a Company Director. He owns a financial advisory practice in Milford, with professional expertise in finance, investment, and economics. Gavin has over 25 years of active involvement in local community groups. He's a member of Devonport Rotary, serves as a Finance Chair for the Rotary District, and volunteers as a Firefighter with the Devonport Volunteer Fire Brigade. As local board budgets tighten, he'll continue to advocate for fairer funding, better practical solutions, and provide strong representation and advocacy for Devonport-Takapuna residents and community groups. Vote Gavin Busch and the C&R team for better tangible outcomes.
Why I want to be elected
I will continue to push council staff to bring the best outcome for decision making. Too often projects and outcomes are brought to the local board with predetermined outcomes. We can and must do better by challenging the process and thinking behind decision making to ensure community desires and needs are met.
My key skills and qualities
I am an existing Local Board member and served for the past three years. I have a Commerce Degree in Economics and Finance and understand budgets and public finances. I am a Volunteer Firefighter and an active member in the community through Rotary and my Chrildrens sports clubs.
My top three key issues
Our local board has a range of projects and decisions to make in the next term. We need experienced members who are across these to ensure the BEST outcomes are obtained. Our local board is facing a cut to its funding next year of $460,000 and will no doubt see further cuts. Decisions around how this impacts our groups and wider community need to be made with your interest in mind. We need continued investment in our sports clubs and fields alongside our stormwater system to reduce flooding.
My position on key topics
Transport
I want to see the easy improvements we pushed for Lake Rd to be implemented by Auckland Transport. We need to continue to push for the Esmonde Rd and Francis St walkway to be completed.
Water
We need to continue to push for stage 3 then stage 2 of Wairau Flooding solution and engage with Government to help this come to fruition. The making space for water programme will be ongoing over the next 3 to 6 years and strong leadership and advocacy will be required to ensure this meets its full potential.
Built environment
The heritage issues around our area are huge, as a local board we have in excess of 10% of the heritage assets in Auckland and do not receive sufficient funding to maintain listening to the community about what to spend the limited funds on will be crucial. I will continue to push for special protection within the Devonport area for Heritage issues is part of any solution to our housing and development issues.
Natural environment
I believe we need to continue to support our local environmental groups RTH and Pupuke Birdsong to ensure continued restoration work is achieved while enhancing our local board land area through the active planting of new native bush where possible.
Community
I will continue to support our two community centers and see further growth of our community activators to work with community groups in Sunnynook and Devonport.
Economic and cultural development
I want to see better management of our business areas, Takapuna has not seen the potential it could have and working with the TBBA to refocus should be a priority. Milford is doing extremely well in a tough environment through a Manager who is focused and disciplined, lessons should and can be learned by encouraging these two areas to work better. Devonport has a great team of leaders taking their BID forward, further support to help them to grow and expand is crucial.
Well-managed local government and outcomes for Māori
I will continue to support the storm recovery efforts of Healthy Waters and the wider Auckland Council. It is great to uckland and the opportunities it will provide to our community through increased tourism.see an expanded Ports of A
Candidate's supporting links
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