12/09/2025
LOCAL BOARD ELECTIONS: DON'T VOTE JEFF OLUFSON!!
With the Local Board elections coming up, it is important that the community is best represented by a Local Board that can get things done, has the right experience and capability, and don't just give lip service to the communities needs.
Jeff Olufson is a Trustee of the Metropark Community Sports Charitable Trust (MCSCT) which is a now a non compliant entity that can no longer fulfil its original purpose; and over 9 years, has not demonstrated the ability to deliver anything to the extent that 50% of the trustees including the independent Trust Chairperson lodged a vote of no confidence to the Trust in early 2024 and failure to perform. He has been the key person that has sought to block the largest user of Metro Park, which is Rodney District Sports. Ironically, the progress made on the pavilion was driven by RDSCA while on the MCSCT, and now that capability is part of the Metro Community Trust.
Jeff, through his miscommunication to Council and the Local Board, and misalignment of governance and project prioritisation, has inadvertently prevented progress to the development of the multi-sport pavilion at MetroPark. The Local Board and the Council lost confidence in the MCSCT (just like us) - and Jeff on behalf of the MCSCT couldn't even submit a compliant application over a 8 month period to extend the existing licence for the current temporary storage containers at MetroPark - not sure how he is going to deliver anything meaningful if that is the level of his experience and capabilities. He has also failed to manage probity and conflict of interest matters of which he has direct awareness of in his capacity as a board member of the Hibiscus Coast Cricket club.
Jeff is what he says - a nice guy and a salesman - but does not have demonstrated governance capability to act on behalf of the community. That is where it stops in regards to his ability to deliver for the community (other than the genuine positive contribution he does make to his cricket club). So stick to your nitting Jeff - not anything to do with MetroPark, and definitely not the Local Board.
A vote for Jeff Olufson, is a wasted vote, will successfully lead to the same outcome the community has experienced from the lack of pavilion facilities we all experience today - no progress for the community.
Use your votes wisely elsewhere if you want to have tangible community outcomes and avoid a Local Board member who doesn't recognise conflicts of interest.
