On the last day of her Christmas “holiday” last Wednesday (January 10th) Minister for the Environment Marion Hobbs attended a meeting in Te Aroha Bay, Arapawa Island in the Marlborough Sounds between residents and members of the Marlborough District Council who have zoned East Bay for industrial mussel production.

Unlike the The Man Sent By Sanfords a few days earlier Marion Hobbs was warmly welcomed by residents.

Scoop photographers David and George Mclellan recorded the event. In this second set of images the meeting Marion Hobbs attended is recorded.

For more background to what the meeting was about see Betty Rowe’s column - Save East Bay: A Gold Rush To Vandalism.

The Scene (1) – In the BBQ area behind the homestead.

The Scene (2) – A glimpse of East Bay can be seen in the background.

Lilly Valley Resident (and Scoop Columnist) Betty Rowe - spoke on History of East Bay

Te Aroha Bay Resident Marcie Rowe – spoke on Environment and Current Uses of East Bay

Te Aroha Bach-owner Stephen Thompson - spoke on behalf of for absent resident Ben Wybourn on planned industrialisation of East Bay

Wharehunga Resident Rachel Reece - spoke on inadequacy of public consultation and legal process in relation to East Bay planning decisions

Question and Answer session with Marlborough District Councillor (and planning committee member) Michael Griggs – East Bay Bachowner Margaret Thompson (right) is chairperson.

Marion Takes Notes/Sees Something Interesting
The chair of the MDC Regulatory Committee Ian Mitchell is standing behind the Minister wearing a black hat. Both Mitchell and Griggs had left before the Minister made a brief address to the meeting.

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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