I have lived in Wellington on and off for twelve years. It is a vibrant and inspiring place to live. But there is opportunity in the hills and valleys. I believe there is an opportunity for Wellington to lead the way in terms of urban development in New Zealand. A starting point for me is the goal of developed Wellington as a sustainable city. The WCC wants Wellington to be carbon neutral, and this is a good start, but we need to think about an overall sustainability approach, in terms social, economic, environmental and cultural development. We can lead the way in urban design, housing quality, energy efficiency and transport.Central and local government, universities and community groups need to work together to make this happen. Some key planks I believe we should focus on in developing a sustainable city are:

• Neighbourhood Development: One of the things I have always loved about Wellington is that it is made up of distinct, but linked, neighbourhoods and communities. Brooklyn, Aro Valley, Mt Victoria, Northland, Kelburn, Karori all have their distinct feel. We need to help develop these neighbourhoods and the different communities of interest across the city to help us secure a sustainable future.
• Infrastructure: We need to ensure we have a secure basis for sustainable development. For instance, we need to think creatively about how we move people about our city. I am particularly interested in ideas about moving people to and from the airport- eg light rail and ideas such as airline check-in facilities in the city linked to public transport.
• Regional cooperation: We need to make sure that the greater Wellington region works together on future development plans. The new Regional Development Agency gives the opportunity for this to happen for business, but we need to think regionally in our planning of transport and other quality of life issues.
• Youth Development and Involvement: I would like to see Wellington’s young people more involved in their city and how it develops. I think a city wide youth council should be established and more opportunities created for young people to come together in safe environments in the city.
• Diversity City: Wellington has a growing sense of diversity, particularly in terms of ethnic communities. We need to support the development of those communities, particularly for new settlers. We must embrace our diversity and give the opportunity for all Wellingtonians to participate in the life of our city.
• Inner City Development: The growing inner city population means changes to the way the city develops. I would like to work with the City on ensuring that growth contributes to our sustainable city, starting with simple things such as a comprehensive recycling scheme for inner city apartment buildings.