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Founder – David Thornton David@nomorerates.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE       23rd Sept 2013

[statement from David Thornton]

Call on Mayor Len Brown to come clean on Unitary Plan maps before vote.

Many ratepayers are concerned that maps showing new property zonings are not being released even though voting in local elections has started.

The maps are part of the Proposed Unitary Plan which is not being notified and published until 30th September, and changes to those maps will affect tens of thousands of residential properties throughout the Auckland Council area.

Ratepayers who submitted to the draft Unitary Plan still do not know the result of their submissions and many are waiting to see the changes to the draft Plan before they cast their votes.

I have asked Mayor Brown to release the zoning maps immediately so that ratepayers can be fully informed before cast their votes.

I am also advising concerned ratepayers not to vote until they have seen the changes in the Plan.

My email to Len Brown was sent on Friday 20th Sept and says;-

Good morning Len

I am getting huge input from people asking about the zoning maps in the Proposed Unitary Plan.

There appear to be significant changes to Howick area, plus suggestions that the changes are different to those shown to the meeting which approved the Plan for notification.

The general impression around the city had been that changes to the Plan would lower the level of intensification in many areas.

As a result of the 'leaked' Howick map there is growing concern that the delay in releasing the new maps is an indication that the new maps contain  'bad news' for suburbs which had been expecting relief from the levels of intensification shown in the draft Plan on which thousands of Aucklanders gave feedback earlier this year.

This concern has increased as residents and ratepayers realise that the new Plan maps are not due to be released until 30th September, more than a week after voting opens in the local elections.

Can I urge you to arrange that all zoning maps are released immediately so that Aucklanders can see the outcome of the concerns they expressed for the future of their neighbourhoods - before they cast their votes.

Kind regard

David Thornton

NoMoreRates

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