Request to withdraw or delay Airport Plan Change

The convenor of the Paraparaumu Airport Coalition group, Councillor Alan Tristram wrote seeking either the withdrawal or delayed implementation of the Paraparaumu Airport Plan Change.

This request was based on information received subsequent to the Council’s decision to accept the application and initiate the plan change process.

The Kapiti Coast District Council Chief Executive, Leigh Halstead investigated the Plan Change process and said, “I considered the request and took legal advice and the advice is that neither I nor the Council have the power to stop the progress of the plan change at this stage.

“Clearly this is a very sensitive issue for the community and I understand the frustrations that people will be feeling over it. I will certainly be asking staff to be proactive in providing good quality advice to the hearing.”

The new information referred to by Councillor Tristram was a letter from the Civil Aviation Authority’s Director clarifying the position of the CAA and making it clear it has no position on the proposed change and the withdrawal of a Memorandum of Understanding from local iwi supporting the proposed change.

“The legal advice I have received is that under the Resource Management Act the Council does not have the ability to withdraw or delay implementation beyond extension of the time limits specified in the Act. Any concerns raised about the accuracy or appropriateness of information provided with the application can be addressed through the public process of receiving submissions and subsequently tested at the hearing stage.

“CAA consideration of the proposal in terms of its legislation can take place after or separately from consideration of the plan change request and the CAA is entitled to make a submission on the proposal.

“Iwi consent is not a pre-requisite for the Council to process a request for a plan change. As with other affected parties iwi too are entitled to make submissions on the plan change proposal,” Mr Halstead said.

ENDS

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