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Auckland Council fails to consult - Again

Auckland Council fails to consult - Again

ACT Leader and Epsom MP David Seymour has criticised the process by which cars are set to be banned from Mt Eden/Maungawhau.

“It is appalling that the Maunga Authority has refused to front media on this issue before the decision is made, but has a communications plan for after they’ve made it.

“Mt Eden is special to many people, its governance should be inclusive, but instead we will see electric gates and exclusion resulting from a secretive process.

“The Maunga Authority, which governs 14 cones across Auckland, consists of six elected representatives from the Auckland Council and its local boards, six appointees of local Iwi, and one non-voting representative of the Crown. (The Maunga Authority’s agenda is online here, see pp9-12)

“Such a public place should be subject to full public accountability, but the public cannot vote for half of the voting members of the authority.

“Aside from the process, the new regime neglects the elderly, busy, young families and the disabled.

“The provisions for the disabled appear to be an afterthought and are premature to say the least. Supposedly you drive up to a gate, call a number, tell them you’re disabled and get given a pin number. The agenda item says “consideration needs to be given to how the call centre screens visitors seeking access.” That’s bureaucrat speak for, “it’s going to be awkward asking people to prove they are disabled over the phone.”

“No doubt this enforcement approach would ultimately be more complicated and expensive than is being revealed, but that seems to be the way with Auckland Council.

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“The change will disadvantage people, who will see the Mountain as less attractive. “Whenever a foreigner comes to town we whip up Mt Eden for an orientation, for busy people the Mt Eden experience is being taken away.

“The contemplative quality that the ban seeks to achieve is already available on eight of the 14 cones managed by the Authority, which are already vehicle free.

“Like the proposed and now revoked fireplace ban, this is an example of Auckland Council pursuing multiple and undemocratic objectives while rates are through the roof and poor housing supply is creating a national economic crisis.

ends

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