Date: 1 June 2018
From: Emily Bailey

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Damning review on Mt. Messenger 'Bypass' welcomed

A group who set up a counter petition to the Mt. Messenger 'Bypass' welcome a new damning review that concludes "the project will therefore result in a net loss of indigenous vegetation, with respect to both extent and ecological functioning. Any shortcomings of pest control for addressing the loss of older forests will not be addressed by plantings."

The report by ecological consultants Wildlands is the third to be completed for the New Plymouth District Council (NPDC), who together with Taranaki Regional Council have received consent applications from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to build the new road around Mt. Messenger.

Petition authors Emily Bailey and Marie Doorbar and their almost 1000 signatories are calling for the upgrade of the existing road instead of the proposed bypass through 44.4 hectares of old-growth forest and wetland which are home to threatened-nationally critical endemic bats, frogs, kiwi and other species. "We are totally frustrated with NZTA's bulldozer mentality and poor environmental understanding. There is little future in long-haul road transportation but ecological 'services' and tourism are huge for Taranaki" said Bailey.

Other statements in the review include that NZTA's report "lack evidence", statements are "misleading" or "unachievable" and the "application understates the likely adverse effects of the project, and overstates the likely benefits". In particular, the assessment of significant trees has been condemned suggesting "inclusion of [an extra required] seven species would likely increase the number of significant trees within the footprint from a total of 17 to hundreds (or thousands), with a commensurate increase in number of trees needing to be planted, at a ratio to 1:200, from 3,400 to 20,000 or more." The applicant's suggestion of planting different species, possibly in areas already in native vegetation "gives no reassurance that this mitigation measure will occur, or be successful."

The public submission hearing has now been delayed at the request of the Department of Conservation who require more information.

The petition can be found here with links to the applicant's proposal https://www.toko.org.nz/petitions/no-mt-messenger-bypass-save-mangapepeke-valley

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