Future West team returned in full to Waitakere Ranges Local Board

Greg Presland is the Chair of the Waitakere Ranges Local Board for the new term with Saffron Toms as Deputy-Chair. Both selections come with the unanimous support of the Future West team which makes up the entire board.The previous Chair, Sandra Coney, did not seek re-election, wishing to spend more time writing and restoring the family’s land at Piha.“I am delighted with the board’s leadership for the next term,” said Ms Coney. “Greg and Saffron are both very strong on environment and protection of the heritage area, but bring other strengths to their new roles.”The Future West team’s success has gone against the previous trend in Waitakere, by being elected as a complete team for a second term.“We take that as a big vote of confidence in our approach,” says Greg Presland. “We started the term on Piha beach protesting about oil drilling off the West Coast and then protested against the felling of an ancient Kauri in Titirangi. We have been outspoken and active about protecting our environment. ““We have also worked very closely with our communities,” says Saffron Toms. “We want to know what they think about the big challenges we are all facing. We can get a lot more done if we partner with our communities.”Greg Presland is a lawyer based in Glen Eden with strong interests in tree protection, planning and transport. Saffron Toms is a geographer and mother of two children. She has particular interests in youth, environment, climate change and the marine environment.Greg Presland sees the revitalisation of Glen Eden as a strong focus for the board in the new term. Large new developments are predicted for Glen Eden and there is the opportunity to create new public places and influence the urban form of the township. Extension of the shared pathway from Oratia to Parrs Park, possible new shuttle transport services for outer areas and better urban tree protection will all be on the agenda of the board in the new term, says Greg Presland.Saffron Toms is spearheading a new piece of work to map the coastal and marine environment, its assets and challenges, which will be worked through with coastal communities. The impacts of climate change on an area with long coastlines is also high on the Board’s agenda, with a desire to ensure local communities are resilient and sustainable.Other members of the Board are Denise Yates, Neil Henderson and Steve Tollestrup.The final results of the election for the Waitakere Ranges Local Board wereSandra Coney Future West 6633 1Greg Presland Future West 6547 2Neil Henderson Future West 5857 3Saffron Toms Future West 5727 4Denise Yates Future West 5173 5Steve Tollestrup Future West 5112 6 Ken Turner WestWards 4440Michelle Clayton Independent 4424Janet Clews Independent 3973Tracy Kirkley 3125Linda Potauaine WestWards 3121Carl Harding WestWards 3054Dave Dempster WestWards2147Diane Goodley 2051Gayle Marshall 1774JB Woolston United Future 1748 Voting coverage for WRLB area 39.5% To contact Greg Presland 021998411Saffron Toms 021904896