KCDC Mayor "Misleading" on Airport consultation
Says Paraparaumu Airport Coalition

The new Mayor of Kapiti, Jenny Rowan, has been taken to task for misleading the public over issues surrounding plans to develop Paraparaumu Airport.

The Paraparaumu Airport Coalition (Inc) says the Mayor has glossed over the Kapiti District Council's total failure to initiate any public consultation over the Airport - despite it being the most contentious issue facing the community.

In a statement this week, Ms Rowan said the Airport plan has "been before the public for consideration, with numerous public and private meetings."

But coalition convenor Alan Tristram says this could create the misleading impression that the KCDC has fulfilled its obligations under the Local Government Act to have full public consultation on matters of public interest.

Mr Tristram, a retired Councillor, says: "Eighteen months ago I began asking the former Mayor, Alan Milne, and the CEO to initiate a series of public workshops and meetings on the key issues surrounding the Airport.

"I also made this request in Council meeting after Council meeting.

"My pleas were ignored by the majority on Council - though Councillors attended two major presentations (one held behind closed doors) by the airport developer, Noel Robinson."

Mr Tristram says Mr Milne finally did arrange an inadequate public meeting, nine months after being asked. But the meeting was marred by the Council's failure to provide adequate seating.

Now, says Mr Tristram, the new Mayor is in danger of repeating the past Council's major mistake of ignoring the Local Government Act and the importance of proper consultation.

He says the 'numerous' public meetings referred to by Ms Rowan, had to be organised, and paid for (with one exception), by the Coalition.

"The Council has failed to organise a single public workshop on the Airport - despite the fact it organised dozens of other workshops for the public on a host of other issues, even covering the siting of a public toilet in Raumati," he says.

"The previous Mayor and most past councillors happily listened to long promotions by the developer" he says. "But these same people refused to even look in at the Coalition public meetings, where the public might have asked them some awkward questions."

"Just how democratic is that?" he asks.

The Airport Coalition, says Mr Tristram, is appealing to the new Mayor to avoid any danger of hiding behind the RMA, to face the fact that local people don't want a Big Box commercial estate on the Airport, and to open the way to proper public consultation.

ENDS

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