CLEVEDON CARES

For release: 3 March 2009

Opponents Welcome Hearing Date For Clevedon Canal Project

Opponents of plans for a canal-based housing development near Clevedon, have welcomed the setting of a date for an Environment Court hearing into the issue.

The Hearing is scheduled to commence on May 18th and is expected to last approximately two weeks.

Community action group, Clevedon CARES, says the Hearing could provide closure on a matter that has troubled local people since mid-2005, when the Manukau City Council adopted a District Plan Change to facilitate the development.

The Plan Change allows for land 4.5 km from the Clevedon Village to be re-zoned from 'Rural 1' to a special 'Maritime Village' zone, enabling almost 300 homes to be constructed on man-made canals.

"It is our sincere hope that the Environment Court will uphold our own and other appeals lodged against the Plan Change and that this will be the end of the matter," says Clevedon CARES spokesperson, Mary Whitehouse.

"The overwhelming majority of submissions to Council from local residents were opposed to the canal project. Even so, the MCC continues to advocate re-zoning the land.

"In addition to the canal village, land re-zoning could open the way for further developments which could also impact on the rural character of the Clevedon Valley and its adjacent areas," she says.

Those appealing against the Plan Change include, amongst others, Clevedon CARES, Ngai Tai Umupuia Te Waka Totara, the Auckland Regional Council and the Ardmore Airfield Tenants and Users Committee.

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