Barry Quayle – 2025
Barry Quayle – Cambridge Ward
1. Operational Deficits and Borrowing (maximum 100 words)
Waipā is currently running operational deficits over three years, which reduces the annual rates increase by around 4%. To fund this gap, the council is borrowing an average of $8 million per year.
a. Were you aware of this funding strategy?
My analysis has exposed fundamental flaws in Council financing arrangements. It is neither prudent nor appropriate to fund operational deficits from borrowings. It is equivalent to using your credit card to fund household running expenses. It’s not sustainable and increases the debt burden. The chickens will eventually come home to roost.
b. Do you agree with the approach of borrowing to fund operational shortfalls as prudent rather than raising rates to fully fund current operations? Why or why not?
Operational budgets must be tailored to live within income levels excluding debt. The appropriateness of council spend and increases in rates must be performance measured against Councils. Waipa is in the upper quartile of councils for having the highest rates increases over the last 3 years at over 40%.
2. Ahu Ake – Waipā Community Spatial Plan (maximum 100 words)
The council has adopted the “Ahu Ake – Waipā Community Spatial Plan” as a long-term vision to guide growth and infrastructure planning.
a. Do you support the direction and priorities set out in Ahu Ake?
b. Given that the plan proposes a number of costly studies how would you ensure that it remains relevant, affordable, and aligned with community needs over time?
I do not support the direction and priorities set out in Ahu Ake. The directions are best encapsulated in the already pursued District Plan, Review of Growth Strategies Implementation Plan and Housing Strategies and Implementation Plan. Far too much ratepayers money is spent on an endless train of plans & documents. In the washup council can and does change any high level plan through its Long Term Plan.
3. Cambridge Connections (maximum 100 words)
The Cambridge Connections project reset proposes a transport network realignment and new infrastructure development around Cambridge, with potential long-term cost across the district and land use implications as well as extensive consultation.
a. Do you support the scale and scope of the Cambridge Connections project as currently proposed?
b. How should costs and impacts be managed to ensure fairness to ratepayers and affected communities?
The reset after a botched “blue blob” is concerning. There’s disquiet from Cambridge people regarding the new Waikato River bridge. The Council has recently defined a Project Governance Group to spearhead the project. Four councillors have been determined for that group but only one Cambridge Ward Councillor. Cambridge’s important views are not going to get the weight deserved.
In addition to the governance group council has defined a matrix of groups to consult and evaluate. All a costly business and add a comms advisor dedicated to the task, over 15 years, and it’s a budget blowout right there.
4. Council Expenditure and Core Services (maximum 100 words)
a. In your view, is Waipā District Council currently limiting its spending to basic or essential services?
b. If elected, would you support a review of current expenditure with a view to reducing non-essential costs and/or staffing levels?
Council is not focused on a disciplined budget where its living within its means. Indeed , its budget enshrined in the LTP has been given an adverse opinion by the Auditor General. The poor financial performance must be a key focus of council.
My priority is to address all the very high risks, and high risks, in the LTP and comments by the Auditor General. All operational costs including staff levels require close examination.
5. Urban Intensification and Tier 1 Status (maximum 50 words)
Waipā must now enable greater housing intensification and density under new rules.
What principles should guide where and how higher-density housing is developed?
New designated areas should provide for the higher intensification, with limited adjacent CBD area. Existing community suburbs residents chose to live in that community density. They should be protected from dropped in high density planning.
Cambridge village needs protected unique amenity environment and not allow uncontrolled high density.
6. Māori Ward Representation (maximum 50 words)
Waipā established a Māori ward to enhance Māori representation at the council table.
Do you support the continuation of the Māori ward beyond the current term?
I have found that Maori ward representation can aid in the collective council debate. So I see it as a part of representation generally. The Maori economy is a significant element of the region’s economy.
7. Community Boards (maximum 50 words)
Do you believe community boards effectively represent community views and provide valuable advice to council? Would you support any changes to their role or powers?
Councillors sitting on Community Boards are sidelined at full council as having a conflict of interest. The Community Board is no different from a council committee and so councillors are not conflicted. Community Boards could play a wider role than currently. eg Initial consultation on the new bridge location.
8. Te Ara Wai (maximum 50 words)
What do you think the council should do with the old Bunnings building in Te Awamutu, which it bought to house Te Ara Wai Museum?
Engage real estate agent and sell the property as it’s a liability on the council’s balance sheet.
Museums are costly exercises and unless they are positioned in large cities, they are a ongoing burden which is difficult to sustain. Boutique community museums can add to community value.
9. Future of Lake Karāpiro Domain (maximum 50 words)
Lake Karāpiro Domain is often referred to as Waipā’s “jewel in the crown”. The site is currently being reviewed under the Reserves Act 1977, and future options may include increased commercial development such as hotel or motel accommodation.
Hamilton City Council now charges outsiders to visit the Gardens, should Waipā do something similar at Karāpiro?
Do you support further commercial development at Lake Karāpiro Domain and/or a visitors’ levy?
I agree with enabling increased commercial development such as accommodation. Council must not be an investor or take risk. Public access to the lake needs to be protected. Karapiro is unlike the Hamilton Gardens so no charge for outsiders otherwise the events industry will be unreasonably affected.
10. Finally, what is your vision for the Waipā district? (maximum 250 words)
My vision is that the district can build on its unique locations, landscapes, townships, amenities and access for constituents and visitors.
Maungatautari is our unique major natural habitat theatre which is of much greater importance than Hamilton’s new theatre; we have a stage filled with the wonders of New Zealand’s past before the introduction of pests. It’s a tranquil environment helping with our wellbeing. Must be supported.
Lake Te Koo Utu needs urgent attention from water quality and ecosystems specialists. It is an essential to Cambridge recreational space.
I seek the essential need to undertake a 3 stage project over 10 years.
Stage 1: Construct on ramps to SH1 freeway at Newcombe road/Tirau Road to ensure the south of Cambridge is adequately served in connection, and to ensure heavy trucks from the sand quarries at 200 per day are removed from travelling through the CBD. This also provides relief in the expected 30 plus years before a new bridge is built across the Waikato River.
Stage 2: Widen the Shakespeare Street Bridge by another lane. Enabling further traffic capacity to access the freeway for the next 30 years until a new River bridge completed.
Stage 3: Off ramps at Newcombe road within 15 years to enable better service to south Cambridge from the freeway.
