Latest news with #Hollyer
Otago Daily Times
18-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Hollyer's hoping for ORC seat
Queenstown's Matt Hollyer, who's seeking election for Otago Regional Council. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Queenstowner Matt Hollyer's hoping to enter politics. The 51-year-old, who's lived in the Whakatipu for the past 30-odd years, is announcing his run for Otago Regional Council (ORC), standing for one of four seats in the Dunstan regional constituency. While much of his background's in tourism, Hollyer's been more sharply focused on conservation over the past five or so years, and it's sparked his desire to help "on a larger scale". His experience includes management roles at Tourism Holdings Ltd, almost 15 years as Shotover Canyon Swing's general manager, and six years as Destination Queenstown's board chair. Since 2019, he's been AJ Hackett Bungy NZ project and innovation manager and, since 2020, ops manager for GSD Workforce, a subsidiary of Bungy, created during Covid to support community conservation groups through Jobs for Nature funding. He's also been ops manager for Southern Lakes Sanctuary since mid-'21 and has been working with ORC, including through the Catchment Action Plan (Cap). He also helped "get the ball rolling" for a targeted ORC rate to assist large-scale conservation projects throughout Otago. "I realised through Covid when we got involved in helping out community conservation groups there are awesome people that are making a great difference to the environment, but it's all boot strapping. "It's sausage sizzles and trying to keep themselves ... volunteering, but you really need to have scale ... to actually make a big difference." He believes there's huge opportunity for ORC to work more closely with community groups and businesses "for the good of everybody". "What I've seen with the people and the engagement they're trying to do through the [Cap], the connections they're making and wanting to [build] with the community, I think is really impressive. "Now it's about starting to deliver that stuff ... we can do better, we can make a difference, and if the community works together, that's possible." Hollyer also thinks should the regional deal eventuate, involving Queenstown and Central Otago district councils and ORC, it's important to have local voices around the ORC table. "I think I can bring a really good understanding of tourism, and what it takes to get conservation projects done." He notes, too, Queenstown, in particular, has a "big responsibility" as it pertains to the headwaters. "What we do up here, that goes into the water and ... goes into much of Otago. "We need to step up and acknowledge that, and get better connected with the whole region." Nominations trickle in As of yesterday afternoon, Glenorchy's John Glover remains the only official Queenstown mayoral candidate, while first-term councillor Melissa White's officially seeking re-election in her Arrowtown-Kawarau ward. Fellow first-termer Gavin Bartlett's again been nominated for the Queenstown-Whakatipu ward, as has local lawyer Stephen Brent, who's seeking election for the first time. Nominations close on August 1.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fine may be cheaper than parking cost
Proposed hikes to charges at council-run car parks in York could make some stays more expensive than paying a fixed penalty notice, opposition councillors have said. Under council budget proposals, it would cost drivers £25.50 for stays longer than six hours on Fridays, Saturdays and during events. Liberal Democrat councillor Andrew Hollyer said it meant it was more expensive for motorists to pay to park than to be charged the £25 for a fixed penalty notice paid within 14 days. But Kate Ravilious, the Labour councillor responsible for transport, said: "Penalty charge notices remain in place to act as a disincentive to those who consider flouting the law, something we'd strongly discourage." "It's shocking that it will now be cheaper to commit a parking offence and pay the fine instead of actually paying to use the city's car parks," Hollyer said. "You couldn't make it up. "Obviously we don't suggest taking this approach, but it does demonstrate the extent to which residents and visitors are being squeezed by this Labour council." Hollyer also criticised the council for putting forward the price increases before a city-wide review of parking, which was scheduled to take place next year. Ravilious said the fixed penalty notice cap in England had not increased in 25 years, which she said "explained why parking charge costs over longer stays are catching up" with the cost of a fine. Council leader Claire Douglas said the council relied on money generated from parking in the city. But she said the council would "keep an eye" on parking charges if the increases were approved to assess the impact. "We will have to wait and see," she said. "If there are significant changes to visitor numbers or the income to the city, we are going to have to look at the cost of parking." Joanna Sambrook, who was visiting York to celebrate her husband's birthday, said the situation was similar near her home in Cheshire. She said: "My husband mistakenly parked on double yellows near home and we realised it was cheaper [to pay the fine than paying for parking], but we're not temped to do it again. "We play the game, pay our charges and don't stay too long deliberately. "Parking is limited, so giving everyone a chance to park is only fair." Charlie Manning was parking at Marygate car park before viewing a house he plans to move in to when he starts studying in York next year. He said his budget as a student was tight, so he could understand why someone might be tempted to take the fine to save money. But Mr Manning said the overall car park pricing structure - and next year's planned increases - might encourage him to use public transport instead. "Luckily the house I'm looking at is just outside the city centre. I would probably get the bus in," he added. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. Parking fees could rise during Christmas market Plan to increase parking fees when city is busiest City of York Council
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fine may be cheaper than parking cost
Proposed hikes to charges at council-run car parks in York could make some stays more expensive than paying a fixed penalty notice, opposition councillors have said. Under council budget proposals, it would cost drivers £25.50 for stays longer than six hours on Fridays, Saturdays and during events. Liberal Democrat councillor Andrew Hollyer said it meant it was more expensive for motorists to pay to park than to be charged the £25 for a fixed penalty notice paid within 14 days. But Kate Ravilious, the Labour councillor responsible for transport, said: "Penalty charge notices remain in place to act as a disincentive to those who consider flouting the law, something we'd strongly discourage." "It's shocking that it will now be cheaper to commit a parking offence and pay the fine instead of actually paying to use the city's car parks," Hollyer said. "You couldn't make it up. "Obviously we don't suggest taking this approach, but it does demonstrate the extent to which residents and visitors are being squeezed by this Labour council." Hollyer also criticised the council for putting forward the price increases before a city-wide review of parking, which was scheduled to take place next year. Ravilious said the fixed penalty notice cap in England had not increased in 25 years, which she said "explained why parking charge costs over longer stays are catching up" with the cost of a fine. Council leader Claire Douglas said the council relied on money generated from parking in the city. But she said the council would "keep an eye" on parking charges if the increases were approved to assess the impact. "We will have to wait and see," she said. "If there are significant changes to visitor numbers or the income to the city, we are going to have to look at the cost of parking." Joanna Sambrook, who was visiting York to celebrate her husband's birthday, said the situation was similar near her home in Cheshire. She said: "My husband mistakenly parked on double yellows near home and we realised it was cheaper [to pay the fine than paying for parking], but we're not temped to do it again. "We play the game, pay our charges and don't stay too long deliberately. "Parking is limited, so giving everyone a chance to park is only fair." Charlie Manning was parking at Marygate car park before viewing a house he plans to move in to when he starts studying in York next year. He said his budget as a student was tight, so he could understand why someone might be tempted to take the fine to save money. But Mr Manning said the overall car park pricing structure - and next year's planned increases - might encourage him to use public transport instead. "Luckily the house I'm looking at is just outside the city centre. I would probably get the bus in," he added. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. Parking fees could rise during Christmas market Plan to increase parking fees when city is busiest City of York Council
BBC News
06-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
York parking fine could be cheaper than maximum charge
Proposed hikes to charges at council-run car parks in York could make some stays more expensive than paying a fixed penalty notice, opposition councillors have council budget proposals, it would cost drivers £25.50 for stays longer than six hours on Fridays, Saturdays and during Democrat councillor Andrew Hollyer said it meant it was more expensive for motorists to pay to park than to be charged the £25 for a fixed penalty notice paid within 14 Kate Ravilious, the Labour councillor responsible for transport, said: "Penalty charge notices remain in place to act as a disincentive to those who consider flouting the law, something we'd strongly discourage." 'Couldn't make it up' "It's shocking that it will now be cheaper to commit a parking offence and pay the fine instead of actually paying to use the city's car parks," Hollyer said."You couldn't make it up."Obviously we don't suggest taking this approach, but it does demonstrate the extent to which residents and visitors are being squeezed by this Labour council."Hollyer also criticised the council for putting forward the price increases before a city-wide review of parking, which was scheduled to take place next said the fixed penalty notice cap in England had not increased in 25 years, which she said "explained why parking charge costs over longer stays are catching up" with the cost of a leader Claire Douglas said the council relied on money generated from parking in the she said the council would "keep an eye" on parking charges if the increases were approved to assess the impact."We will have to wait and see," she said."If there are significant changes to visitor numbers or the income to the city, we are going to have to look at the cost of parking." Joanna Sambrook, who was visiting York to celebrate her husband's birthday, said the situation was similar near her home in said: "My husband mistakenly parked on double yellows near home and we realised it was cheaper [to pay the fine than paying for parking], but we're not temped to do it again. "We play the game, pay our charges and don't stay too long deliberately."Parking is limited, so giving everyone a chance to park is only fair." Charlie Manning was parking at Marygate car park before viewing a house he plans to move in to when he starts studying in York next said his budget as a student was tight, so he could understand why someone might be tempted to take the fine to save Mr Manning said the overall car park pricing structure - and next year's planned increases - might encourage him to use public transport instead."Luckily the house I'm looking at is just outside the city centre. I would probably get the bus in," he to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
