Introducing Mark Roberts
I have lived in Titirangi, a place I love, for 36 Years. Both a Chartered Accountant and Commercial Pilot, I have worked most of the last 25 years as Director and Chief Executive Officer for companies within the aviation sector.
Iam passionate about the Waitakere Ranges environment, both the forest and thebeaches. Recent work with the SouthTitirangi Neighbourhood Network Sanctuary Project and Kauri Rescue has given mefurther insight into the issues that we face. For the Waitakere Ranges area I want to see safe tracks opened as soonas practicable, swimmable beaches, vibrant local communities and transportaddressed with improved Park & Ride and bus services
I am keen to apply my governance, management and financial skills learned in the rough and tumble of the commercial world towards helping create a better experience for all living, working and spending leisure time in the Waitakere Ranges.
Being a keen walker, re-opening the tracks once they are safe from the transmission of kauri dieback is a clear priority. Seeing our sewage system infrastructure properly maintained and improved so that it becomes safe to swim at our beaches again at all times, is also a big priority for me. In fact pollution of any kind. Transport improvements, particularly park & rides, cycleways and shuttles are important. The redevelopment of Glen Eden is already funded and needs to be completed. We are lucky to have thriving arts venues and historic heritage in our area, and they should be supported along with community events. More action is needed on the pests and plants that are killing our native birds and strangling our forests. I am very pleased to see the number of community groups that are actively assisting with this and we should support them. I will push for an alternative site for the Watercare treatment plant.
After 36 years living in Titirangi, enjoying the village and the wonderful Waitakere Ranges, raising a much loved family here with my wife, I am very appreciative of the opportunities and lifestyle afforded to my family and me by this area. I now see those opportunities and lifestyle under threat. Kauri dieback, invasive plants and pests are threatening our forest, pollution threatens our beaches and we have ageing infrastructure. I see the Future West team fighting these threats, addressing these and other issues, and working hard to keep the Waitakere Ranges Local Board Area the wonderful place that it is, restoring, upgrading and improving where necessary, and taking new initiatives. I want to work with this team, to help continue their good work and to make a contribution to the community that has given my family and me so much. I realise that I now have the time, energy and skill set to do this and it would be wrong not to do so.