Guest Speakers
From:
Sally Buck
Date:
2007 Jul 01 11:37 UTC
Short link
Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this forum.
I grew up in Christchurch – we lived in North Beach and New Brighton. Later I
graduated from Canterbury University with a Masters degree in Education and
also qualified as a teacher and speech/language therapist. It was in this area
that I worked, for a few years before becoming an early intervention teacher
and advisor. Later I became a lecturer in special needs and after that worked
as an employment consultant. Then I was employed as an ESOL teacher for adult
new migrants for 5 years before I stood for Council.
My husband and I were married in 1977 and we lived in Auckland for about 6
years but came back to Christchurch in 1983. We have four adult children -
three sons and a daughter. We currently live in the Burnside area.
In 1998 I stood for Council as an independent and was elected to represent the
Waimairi ward. In 2004 the wards were amalgamated so I now represent the
Fendalton-Waimairi ward. I have no political party affiliations. This is my
third term as a councillor.
In Council my interests are many and varied - the environment, sustainability,
energy, waste, recycling, sewerage and drainage, water reticulation, planning
and public transport.
I have been a strong advocate for waste minimisation and cleaning up our
environment especially the water-ways. My voting record shows I have
consistently voted for sustainable projects and policies. I support cycle ways
and better public transport.
Although I can usually see other peoples point of view I find it very hard to
compromise my views on issues which will have long term effects for
Christchurch such as our future drinking water supply. I have not supported the
Central Plains Water Scheme and I will do a separate posting on this issue
under topics.
I also take a keen interest in planning as I believe we have not had any town
planning in New Zealand for at least 15 years and the effects of this are
showing with 2-3 storey poorly designed ‘sausage flats’ all in a line on long
narrow sections. The areas in which these are predominant will be the slums of
the future.
Recently I initiated a sustainability working party which will have input into
the
development of a Sustainability Policy which will help Council meet its legal
requirements under the LGA 2002 in terms of taking a “sustainable development
approach” (Part 2, Section 14) and in considering present and future, social,
environmental and economic wellbeing etc (Part 2, Section 10). I hope that
people who have knowledge on climate change and sustainability and wish to be
involved in this working party will contact me so we can involve these people.
I have enjoyed reading the postings on this forum and am looking forward to
hearing from you about the issues that you see as the most pressing for our
city.
Sally