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Deon Swiggs, Campaign Launch Speech

Deon Swiggs, Campaign Launch Speech

7 August 2016, Smash Palace

Thank you for coming to this campaign launch for what will be an exciting, energetic and inclusive campaign.

I am thankful for your attendance this afternoon. A special thank you to the great group of people who are part of the support team: Samson, Garry, Luke, Israel, Aaron, Alana, Craig, Vernon, Ellie, Wendy, Kerstin, Jill, Philip, Evan, Martz, Cody and Bryce.

Also thanks to Garry and the team here at Smash Palace for agreeing to host us this afternoon. We are in what’s become a special area currently in our city. It is starting to symbolise so much of what I dream Christchurch can be and the challenges it still faces.

Firstly, the most obvious are the large rebuild projects that are starting to take shape, symbolising the energetic rebirth of central Christchurch. The heritage that is being restored symbolises the passion to dig in, work hard and preserve our culture and history. The creative effort put into some of the still broken buildings symbolises the spirit of creativity that has helped so many through this time. Incubators nearby are bringing innovative thinking here and alongside the educational facilities, symbolises new energy and the ‘learning journey’ we are undergoing.

All these positive things are happening in this location from many different industries and they have had to work together to succeed. All this symbolises that together, Christchurch will be successful if we support one another collaboratively and embrace diversity in all ways. I see this beginning to work well here. Things are getting done. However, there are still some challenges ahead which can be symbolised here.

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Look down High Street and you see a road that’s been closed since the earthquakes strangling the recovery of this location. The inaction there is disappointing and symbolises the real challenge we as city leaders face in activating recovery through the bureaucracy of government.

Look North and you see the vast empty space of the East Frame. This, the promised land of inner city residential living, cannot come fast enough. The dream of a diverse mixed-use city, an activated city with lively city fringe suburbs, relies on people to be back here. People living here will bring back industry, investment and activity. Benefiting all the areas surrounding the CBD – the central ward. Breaking through bureaucratic obstacles to pave the way for collaborative relationships to form and inner-city living will be key focal areas for council.

I am standing for council because I want to be part of getting things done for our city. We are at a point where our city needs to engage and be enthusiastic about the recovery.

The central ward has a vital role in this recovery, in so much as the future attention of the rebuild will be focused here. We must ensure we get it right for both the people who live and work in the central city and for the city as a whole as its key activity centre.

Through Rebuild Christchurch, I have played a part as an independent entity since September 2010 in the recovery. I have been in a unique position to see aspects of the recovery for what it is.

Continuing into the council as an independent candidate I want to be able to maintain that perspective. It is vital to work across the political and social divide. With the government playing a partner role in the recovery, especially in the Central Ward, we need to focus on what’s best for Christchurch.

Insurance and repairs to homes still to this day continue to be a big problem for people. We all know how challenging insurance companies have been to work with. This is why I helped establish the Canterbury Insurance Assistance Service. I also worked directly with Southern Response at that time to help them understand the importance of talking and listening to their customers. People need a voice and this was my focus.

Advocating for what is right and for people is a core value I am proud to live by and this ethic is what I will be bringing to the council table. Strong and independent advocacy based on trust is still needed in our community and I would like to see our council play a strong leadership role in this matter.

The central ward is such a diverse and interesting area that includes the Four Aves, and parts of Linwood, Avonside, Richmond, Edgeware, St Albans, Addington, Sydenham, Waltham and Phillipstown. It is such a great mix and I am looking forward to working alongside the communities of the area.

One area that needs to be championed is the Linwood Village. A multitude of issues since the earthquakes has left the area in disrepair. There is a wish to see the Village regenerate and I believe a regeneration focus, official or unofficial, will help immensely. Bringing the business owners and the immediate community together there, alongside council, is a solution I want to see happen quickly. And much like New Brighton, a bottom-up community regeneration will activate.

Sydenham and Richmond business areas are also areas of focus I would like to see regeneration attention from Council. Again the activation of these areas will support the long-term recovery for the connecting communities.

I also want to see roads back to a state that won’t cost residents huge bills. With the SCIRT program due to finish at the end of this year and council allocating extra funding I think the task of addressing this should be prioritised, especially on main routes such as Bealey Ave which in its current state is not fit for purpose.

The residential red zone is also an area of passionate interest for me. Working alongside community champions for many years, hosting a TV show, listening to and discussing hundreds of ideas, I am confident in standing up for the community’s aspirations. This is one of Christchurch’s biggest opportunities and we have only one chance to get it right.

Activating the city to sea from the CBD right through to Brighton will benefit much of the central ward and Christchurch as a whole. I will advocate for the best possible outcomes for Christchurch, especially taking into consideration those who still live in the residential red zone and adjacent to it.

Living in Central Christchurch I have seen the changes taking place daily and I want to advocate for a vibrant city to emerge, a city that meets the current and future needs of its residents. Although as a councillor we must stand in a ward, I believe it is also very important to have a strategic approach to how the entire city is operating as one which takes in astute financial planning and strategy for delivering services and amenities.

I am very excited by the opportunity to stand for council and be elected. I have been actively involved behind the scenes with the city, working with all the different agencies, to help bring action on the ground where it’s needed. The time is now to be more hands-on and lead from the front in the next stage of the recovery and regeneration.

It’s time to get it done. Lastly my aspiration is to be a transparent, available and a lively Councillor, so in that spirit please stay a while and have a chat, meet the team and have fun.

ENDS

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