Residents ‘corralled’ at council meeting

Residents ‘corralled’ at council meeting

A meeting called by Kāpiti Coast District Council on October 22 to hear the views of residents near the proposed Moy Estate did not get off to a good start.

Despite it being a public meeting before the full council, the group of residents were not permitted into the chamber. They had been advised by council staff a day earlier that they would be ushered into a separate room where they could watch proceedings live on a screen. Representatives were to be called from the room when it was their turn to speak.

A residents representative, Lyall Payne, said he objected to the process, but without success. It was “odd”, he said.

“It was surely a public meeting, where anyone could attend. We felt disrespected, and that they were trying to intimidate us by corralling us and seeing us only one at a time.”

Mayor Janet Holborow didn’t see it that way. After Phil McIntyre spoke, accompanied for support by James Unwin, James told councillors the others would also have liked to be in the room.

Seemingly surprised that they had been barred from the meeting, the mayor said: “Fill the chairs, let’s bring them in.” About 20 people then filed into the room and sat in the public seating area to hear the rest of the meeting.

Expert advice sought by Ōtaki Today is that the meeting likely complied with local government meeting requirements because “the public” could still view the meeting live streamed.

Asked by Ōtaki Today for an explanation for excluding the group, Kris Pervan, council group manager strategy and growth, said in a statement: “Our approach for the ‘hearing of submissions’ session aimed to ensure a comfortable and safe space for submitters to speak directly with councillors,” she said. “We were aware of the strong community interest in this topic and as we had not received confirmation of how many people would be in attendance until the day of the session, we made our preparations on the assumption that a larger group would be in attendance. As this was not the case, the mayor was able to make the call on the day to bring interested parties into the chambers for the discussion.”

Phil McIntyre told the meeting that current residents were asking councillors to not change the status of a parcel of land that would allow access to the development via Moy Place.

He reiterated they were not objecting to the development itself.

“The planned Moy Estate and Tōtara Estate can coexist,” he said. “Sensible road access from Main Road [Old SH1] must prevail. Of critical importance, this approach assures for Moy Place and Sue Avenue residents ongoing community enjoyment, safety and well-being.”

Lyall Payne and other speakers pointed out discrepancies between traffic safety reports commissioned by the developer and their own independent report. Among other things, the report for the residents had concerns about traffic numbers  and favoured access via Old State Highway 1.

The meeting also heard from two members of Cuttriss Consultants and a representative of the developer, Wakefield Holdings They referred to their reports showing little adverse effect on the community with Moy Place access. They also emphasised that the development would provide the affordable housing needed in Ōtaki.

Councillors now have to decide whether to change or retain the status of the land.