CITY COUNCIL AND ITS COMMISSIONERS IGNORE WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS

Media release from Waterfront Watch Inc

For immediate release 7th November 2009

CITY COUNCIL AND ITS COMMISSIONERS IGNORE

WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS

Waterfront Watch deplores the Wellington City Council’s Variation 11 plan to stop public involvement with any future new buildings in the Kumutoto area of the waterfront.

The city council acknowledges that “the focus of most submissions [about Variation 11] was that all development on the waterfront should be subject to public notification processes…”

The council-appointed commissioners also acknowledge this when they state: “Most of the submissions oppose Variation 11 either in whole or in part.”

Yet having asked the public to “have your say,” the council is proceeding to ignore the public’s clear wish that notification should continue.

“Yet again, the council shows that it has no respect for its consultation processes or for the opinions of ratepayers,” says Waterfront Watch president Pauline Swann.

Of 49 submissions, only one supported what the council is planning to do. This lone submission was from the council-owned waterfront company.

There was no other support at all.

Waterfront Watch agrees with the Civic Trust which says that Variation 11 provides no assurance that the quality of public space will be honoured.

It agrees with the Architectural Centre which says “the role of public input on the waterfront has been a productive one.”

It agrees with the Historic Places Trust which says that present controls should remain.

But the city council is determined to push ahead with Variation 11, to stop any future public input. The only people who will benefit will be the developers.

FURTHER COMMENT

Pauline Swann tel 04 472 8417