*Concern over public consultation about Nelson Resource Management Plan changes: Miccio*

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Mayoral candidate Aldo Miccio is concerned about whether the council’s technique of consulting with residents will be enough in relation to its proposed Nelson Resource Management Plan changes.

Miccio’s concern comes following Vanguard St businesses told him they were not consulted properly over the replacement of carparks with trees outside their businesses, and central city businesses were out of the loop on the detailed plans for Montgomery Square. Meanwhile, council staff have commented that businesses were consulted.

“I do not doubt that council staff are sending out flyers on some planned projects, and are publishing information in the Nelson Live publication,” Miccio says. “This may be happening, but something is clearly not working. People are regularly saying to me that they know nothing about what is going on. This is particularly worrying given that the council is currently seeking submissions on changes to the Nelson Resource Management Plan (NRMP) – *significant changes that directly affect residents’ homes.*

“Among the number of suggested NRMP changes, the council is proposing changes to fence heights, garage positions and noise levels in residential areas,” he says. “It is vital that the public has a say on these issues, as it puts significant controls or restrictions on them and I am concerned that people don’t know about these changes, or don’t know how to make submissions.

“The result of all of this is a feeling in the community that the council is railroading them into changes they don’t want and that the community does not believe it is being listened to, which is a real shame,” he says. “I believe the council needs to have a fresh look at how it consults, and consider making changes to better engage residents.”

ENDS

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