High Court Action Against GWRC
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PAUATAHANUI FUTURES SOCIETY INC.
Public Statement, 12 May 2008
High Court action against Greater Wellington Regional Council seeks Judicial Review on Council’s process
The Pauahatanui Futures Society (PFS Inc.) has filed papers in the High Court at Wellington seeking a Judicial Review of the process followed by the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) in respect of its public consultation of the Batttle Hill Farm Forest Park Management Plan Review. It has further applied to the Court for an Interim Injunction stopping all activity until the court has heard the application. The second respondent in the action is RES (NZ) Limited, a wind farm developer.
The action follows numerous attempts to engage with the council to fulfil a promise to re-open the public consultation over the review of the Battle Hill Farm Forest Park Management Plan. At the heart of the issue is the council’s action to award primacy to a commercial wind farm developer (RES NZ Limited) over all other activities in the park. This action was taken outside of the public consultation process and the council had already signed the contract with RES to investigate a wind farm development at Puketiro adjacent to the Battle Hill Farm Forest Park.
PFS Inc chairman Bruce Smith says the court action is necessary as the council has continued to ignore its own legal advice and the submissions from local residents calling for a re-opening of public consultation. The council’s apparent lack of interest in listening to community concerns is disappointing. Our members have tried to work with the council to resolve the issues, but have been consistently sidelined,” Mr Smith said.
He said the membership was overwhelmingly in favour of pursuing action and the community had responded to raise the funds for the court action.
“The Society’s legal counsel has identified six points of law to be argued and these are outlined in our Statement of Claim’, Mr Smith said.
Nicky Chapman
Secretary PFS Inc.
PH: 0274 465 618
