6/2/07

“No More Closed Door Meetings on Airport!”

The Paraparaumu Airport Coalition says it’s no longer prepared to agree to any “closed door” meetings on the airport’s future.

Responding to calls by airport developer Noel Robinson for a meeting before next Sunday’s Airport Forum at Paraparaumu, the Coalition says Mr Robinson is trying to pull off a fast one on the Kapiti public by trying to have “behind the scenes” meetings.

Coalition convenor, Councillor Alan Tristram says: “Mr Robinson will try to pretend he has had public consultation with all parties ahead of the crucial Council Regulatory Committee meeting on March 15.”

“Mr Robinson must now pull all his proposals for an airport concrete jungle off the table – and agree to proper, formal, public consultation under the Local Government Act.”

Cr Tristram says that, in fact, this is what the KCDC (Kapiti Coast District Council) should have initiated a year ago, but failed to do.

Instead, he says, Council staff have been involved in a long series of closed-door meetings with Mr Robinson.

“I believe that Green MP, and Civil Aviation spokesperson, Sue Kedgley is right when she says the Council has been failing in its duty by not consulting under the Local Government Act,” he says.

He points out that Airport Coalition members wanted to meet with Mr Robinson at their public meeting at Southwards three weeks ago, but Mr Robinson turned down the opportunity to attend and debate the issues in public.

ENDS

© Scoop Media