K (Guru) Gurunathan, candidate for the Paraparaumu Ward, says it is time for straight answers on the Government’s Expressway.
“The Kāpiti Observer has asked candidates tough questions during past local government elections. It has to be congratulated for riveting the most critical issue of this election the Government’s Expressway,” says Mr Gurunathan.
“The set of questions posed by the Observer will nail the candidates’ flags to the post for all voters to see. It will be particularly challenging for mayoral candidate Chris Turver and his largely silent team.
“Mr Turver’s strategy is to bury the Expressway issue by declaring nothing can be done until NZTA announces its design after the elections are over. The Observer has, however, demanded candidates respond to these questions with answers to be published in Thursday’s edition.”
The questions on the Expressway are:
What is your view on the Government’s proposed expressway through Kāpiti? Do you support it? Is the Western Link Road route the right choice? If built, what path should it take at Raumati South (Poplar Ave or 200 Main Rd South) and in Waikanae (in relation to the urupa)? Where should the interchanges be?
“Much more interesting would be the response of Mr Turver’s team. Will their response be a united carbon copy manufactured by the merchants of “one voice”? Or one decreed by the central command of a communist party structure?,” says Mr Gurunathan.
“As for Mr Turver, in his advertised seventh and last priority he lists “Practical roading connections to expressway”.
“My question would be practical for whom? Practical for NZTA is not the same as practical from the community’s point of view. Is he going to be the Mayor for the Governmment or the Mayor of Kāpiti?”
