29 January 2007

Paraparaumu Airport Development Sparks Protest Meeting

Development plans for Paraparaumu Airport announced today have produced calls for another huge public protest meeting in Kapiti.

The Kapiti Airport Coalition, which held a big protest meeting last June, says another – and bigger – meeting will be held soon.

Coalition member Mike Woods says: “This time we will be demanding the attendance of Mayor Alan Milne and senior KCDC staff responsible for this development disaster.”

MP’s, Regional Councillors, and the Transport Minister will also be invited.

Mr Woods says that over the past year the Kapiti Mayor and KCDC staff consistently refused to attend or arrange any public meetings on the Airport issue.

“Now, at the last moment,” Mr Woods says, “the public have three days to assimilate what is being proposed in a private plan change by the Auckland developers”

“Where is the public consultation we thought we were guaranteed in the Long Term Community Plan?” he asks.

The plan change application, to be considered by the KCDC this Thursday envisages ‘big box’ commercial developments, a petrol station and a supermarket on land which was formerly a runway and open space.

“Most of the last open space in the middle of Kapiti will go,” says Mr Woods,” and there will be widespread traffic chaos from the massive increase in heavy duty transport vehicles using the airport.”

ENDS

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