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Ritchie Runway Referendum

Media release 8 August 2016

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

MAYORAL CANDIDATE HELENE RITCHIE:

RITCHIE RUNWAY REFERENDUM

Wellington Mayoral candidate and Former Chair of the Airport Authority (for 8 years) Helene Ritchie is calling for a runway referendum on the proposed rates funded $350 million (probably likely $500million) Airport Extension if the Environment Court approves it.

"As mayor I will call for a referendum/poll of the people. The question? Do you want to pay for the proposed airport extension?

The public has a right to have a say on openly risking their funds to this extent on “corporate welfare”- ratepayers massively subsidising a huge global company Infratil (which own two thirds of the airport), for no clear justification and plenty of propaganda.

Rates should not to be used for "corporate welfare.” That was never intended.

Most importantly citizens, ratepayers, the people should have say. They pay. It is their money, their rates.

Local government legislation used to allow for a ratepayers' loan poll.

Today, Councils have a “free hand". Wellington City Council as the only public funder, has already committed some funds.

Wellington Airport is primarily a domestic hub-that is where the focus must be-improving the facility there and lowering fares (through lower not increased, landing fees.)

The extension puts that at risk. Air New Zealand opposes the extension. Their landing fees and fares would need to go up to pay for it, along with rates.

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I am opposed to the airport extension. All other mayoral candidates are blindly supporting it. A small cabal of people-mayor Celia Wade- Brown, deputy mayor Justin Lester, Chief Executive, Kevin Lavery, Councillor Jo Coughlan, Infratil, a developer, have pushed it, despite significant opposition from Air New Zealand and airlines and not one airline committed to “long haul” from Wellington. Now all other serious candidates support this outrageous use of ratepayer funds being “given” to private company.

My focus instead: Build a City not a runway. Promote the City the economy, and all its unique attraction.

Strengthen the fabric of the Wellington community, and/ or lower rates. A strong economy relies on a strong and healthy community.

Build it and they will come is a ridiculous philosophy-at ratepayers’ expense.

There will be huge disruption of the Eastern suburbs and City during day and night construction and heavily rock loaded trucks 60 an hour- 555 a day along with climate change, marine and local environmental impact.

No one else (other than the Council/ratepayers) has formally agreed to fund this $350 million-$500m? corporate welfare project--neither Government, nor local Councils.

Rates and airfares would need to rise significantly to pay for such a major cost.

The public has a week to make submissions now to the Environment Court and I urge them to do so.

However the Environment Court does not examine the issue of ratepayer funding. That is the central issue of the poll I want to call as mayor. Should rates be spent on “corporate welfare”-an unnecessary airport extension?

….ends


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