Press release

Advice from Council on Submissions Process Helps Community

Members of the Drury & Ramarama Protection Society (DRPS) have held 5 successful submission clinics during the last 3 weeks as people from the local communities prepare their individual submissions in response to the Drury South Industrial Project private plan change application lodged with Auckland Council and publically notified on September 4.

On Wednesday, 10 October members of the local community were briefed about the whole submissions process by members of the Auckland Council Planning Team (South), Anne Cheng, Trevor Watson and Craig Cairncross.

Mr Mathias, society Chairperson, said “The Council staff were fantastic and answered the questions from our members about the submissions process clearly and well. They took a relatively complicated process and explained it in a way that everyone could understand. Dozens of questions were posed from the floor and locals left the meeting with a good understanding of next steps after this submissions round.”

Advising members of the Society about the level of detail required, Anne Cheng said “Submissions do not necessarily have to be very detailed, but should cover the areas or key points you wish to raise. You may also wish to include examples to illustrate the points made in your submissions. The most important thing is that submissions provide scope for details to be addressed at the time of hearing.“

In response to a question from the floor she also commented “submitters may present their detail at the hearing in any way they wish, for example power point, video, handout and so on.”

Mrs Cheng also noted that the submissions will be summarised and submitters will each be sent a copy of the summary, allowing opportunity for a round of further submissions later this year. The time frame will be determined by the volume of submissions actually received and will be advised nearer the time.

Mr Mathias reported to the meeting that the Society was putting in its own submission on behalf of all members, prepared by expert witnesses. “To date we are just over half way towards our target of $180 000. The funds will be used to pay for the expertise required to analyse the 5000 plus pages of documentation and present our case adequately at the hearings stage.”

Submissions for the private plan change application closed on Tuesday 16 October.

Anne Cheng (standing) responds to a question from a member of the Drury Community. Also in photo Peter Mathias (left), Society chairperson, Craig Cairncross (second from left), Trevor Watson (third from left)

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ENDS

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