MEDIA RELEASE
FROM: Paraparaumu Airport Coalition

12/8/08

The Paraparaumu Airport Coalition says an attack by a pro-development tourist official has plumbed a new depth in person abuse and vituperation.

Alan Tristram, media spokesman for the Airport Coalition, says it’s ‘extraordinary’ that a spokesman for a publicly funded body, Nature Coast, should take a partisan position on such a huge semi-industrial development as Paraparaumu Airport.

Earlier, Chris Barber, tourism manager for Nature Coast, attacked the Coalition for allegedly talking ‘dribble’ and taking a ‘negative’ line.

However, Mr Tristram says the Coalition says it has been positively sticking to facts provided by developer Noel Robinson’s statements and documents.

“We are positively for a natural beautiful coast. Building a huge business park and distribution centre right in the middle of the last big open space in Paraparaumu isn’t something I would think “nature Coast’ would support,” he says.

Mr Tristram says he suggests Mayor Jenny Rowan, whose Council supports Nature Coast, should ‘take Mr Barber quietly aside and enlighten him about the attitude of half the District’s Councillors who oppose Mr Robinson’s plans for Big Box development on the Airport.’

“Let’s look at the facts which Mr Barber challenges,” says Mr Tristram.

“One, Rates: Of course rates will have to rise to fund the infrastructure needed for this huge development. Why do you think so much money is being poured into the bottomless hole of the Western Link Road? These costs will hemorrhage our District over coming years.

“Two, Airport Safety: Why would a developer committed to safety want to close down an alternate runway, crucial to flight safety for light planes in our notoriously windy climate?”
“Three: Better paying jobs: Whoever thinks a massive distribution centre, crowded with heavy trucks will provide young people with many high-quality jobs needs their head examined,” Mr Tristram says.

“Four, Tourist Destinations need an airport: Yes, they do, and Mr Robinson and his team need to concentrate on providing good aviation facilities – not closing a runway, crowding the area with Big Box warehouses, and destroying many of the District’s iconic views of Kapiti Island.”

“Five, Negativity: The Coalition, which represents a wide swathe of public opinion, is relentlessly positive in supporting people rights to a decent life in natural surroundings. We positively don’t need more and more development!”

Mr Tristram says it’s time Nature Coast woke up to the fact that the World has changed – and that over-development is in fact destroying the natural world we cherish.

Finally, says Mr Tristram, “People like Mr Barber must stop peddling the myth that Mr Robinson and his business associates are somehow doing the people of Kapiti a favour by giving us money.

“They are doing nothing of the kind: We are transferring huge wealth to developers when we carelessly change land designations abnd so inflate the personal fortunes of shrewd developers.

“The Council should control developers – it should not be the other way round.”

ENDS

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