Local Catholic School Takes On Petroleum Giant

Traffic and safety concerns for local community

Pakuranga, Auckland, June 6, 2014 – Local community will be staging a protest opposing the proposed service station development by BP at 322-330 Pakuranga Road.

This is the fourth attempt by BP in the last 20 years. The proposed site is adjacent to St Marks Primary school/ parish, Pakuranga park village and residential homes. These are the most vulnerable in terms of the activities of a service station in their midst. The local communities have successfully opposed the previous attempts by taking the fight right up to the environment court. Even in the face of strong opposition BP have been granted limited notification therefore most in our community are not aware of the proposed development and its potential impact.

In its decision in 1998 the environment court stated: “Our conclusion on traffic aspects is that, the effect of a service station on this site would be undesirable, adverse, and potentially dangerous. The traffic problems which will be created are not beneficial to the free and unimpeded flow of traffic upon Pakuranga Road.”

The current submission before council has not mitigated these issues. Furthermore they stated “Matters such as fumes, noise, visual aspects etc. may not of themselves have been sufficient to cause the Court to reach a decision adverse to BP but the added traffic factor with the potential for death or injury of primary school pupils have influenced the Court in deciding that this site is unsuitable for the use proposed.”

In addition the surroundings are largely residential in nature and the development will have a significant impact on the character of the neighborhood. There are already 4 service stations within 5 minutes travel of the proposed site. We don’t need another! Fighting a multinational giant worth 178 Billion once is hard enough but our community has had to fight them 3 times in the last 20 years. Donations and support are welcome http://www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/stopbp

ENDS

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