Media statement

March 23rd, 2004

Anti-growth clique of ARC councillors named

A clique of ARC councillors is doing its utmost to hold back Auckland's development by obstructing the transport and growth initiatives supported by the majority of Aucklanders, claims the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).

"A minority clique of councillors on the Auckland Regional Council is working hard to obstruct any plans the region develops to ease traffic congestion and help lift our region's standards of living," said Alasdair Thompson, EMA's chief executive.

"The same group last week all voted themselves onto the Regional Land Transport Committee and seized an opportunity when others were absent on March 15th to reject the council's annual plan.

"Adopting the council plan is a legal requirement; it should have been a formality but the clique demonstrated its tactics were to disrupt and obstruct.

"The 31 member RLTC meeting today is larger than the council it reports to.

"The clique is made up of councillors Lee, Coney and Walbran with occasional support from councillors Glenn, Smith and Burrill.

"Councillors Coney, Glenn and Lee further confirmed their anti-business views when they voted against the council's adoption of the Auckland Regional Economic Development Strategy (AREDS) last month.

"This is the clique that thinks business should subsidise other ratepayers by paying more than residential ratepayers for the same property value though most business owners earn the average wage or less.

"Aucklanders should note their names and vote them out in October or we'll still be trying to get better road and passenger transport solutions built 10 years from now."

ENDS

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