Please Reconsider Ruakura Tainui Group Holdings

Please Reconsider Ruakura TGH

by Deborah Fisher
Fairview Downs Residents and Owners Association
29th January 2015

In response to the resignation of Tainui Group Holdings Cheif Executive Mike Pohio and the comment from Chairman Henry van der Hayden that "the TGH board was considering other ways of developing the property (Ruakura) and with what partners".

Bearing in mind the recent bomb scare at Tauranga customs and the derailment of train wagons carrying a corrosive and hazardous substance at the Port of Tauranga in November last year, Fairview Downs Residents and Owners Association would like to again express our concerns over the wisdom of the Ruakura Inland Port location. Members have never opposed development of the Ruakura area but believe the current proposal is an unsuitable one.

We believe there are numerous better options than that currently put forward by Tainiui Group Holdings. Many project objectors suggested a scientific/technology type hub along the lines of Menlo Park (Silicon Valley) or the Lincoln Agricultural Hub. Much like the original FutureProof vision which described Ruakura as "a high technology innovative precinct and a more general employment area", this could expand on and leverage off the already established Innovation Park, Waikato University and current Research Facilities in the area. Another idea could be to utilise the area used for harvesting Maize to create a Maze in Maize, an idea already successfully operating in other NZ cities and towns and this would strengthen the variety of activities available for local resident and/or tourists.

We hope that alternative proposals are seriously considered as we believe that our concerns regarding the risks of Hazardous Substance Incidents and Air Pollution have never been given full consideration.

The Civil Defence Hazardscape report says, although hazardous substance incidents requiring mass evacuation are uncommon, the most likely cause would be the release of a hazardous substance during transport, either at a port or from a road accident in an urban area, or a large fire ignited by or near, chemicals (as in the Tamahere Cool Store disaster of 2008).

As concerns regarding the impact of these risks on people and amenities did not question the rules provided by the experts involved in writing the Plan, any risk impacts are considered covered by rules governing Hazardous Substances with no further assessment required.

An environmental benefit claimed by the current project is a reduction of carbon emissions in Auckland. Concerns that the trade-off for this benefit was poor air quality surrounding this development were not addressed. The Board of Enquiry comment, "Air quality and the effects of vehicle emissions are not matters we can address as they fall outside our jurisdiction" also "air quality effects are a matter for the Regional Council".

It seems very likely that any discussion or consideration will not begin to take place until after the process for approval has been undertaken and consents applied for.

The Ruakura Structure Plan was deemed Nationally Significant, but true environmental impacts of this project on a local or regional level seem to have been given little consideration.

The University of Waikato significantly contributes to the local economy and generates jobs both directly and indirectly and will sit opposite the Inland Port. Many other businesses, educational facilities and exisiting neighbourhoods are also set cheek by jowl with this project. Are these potential hazards to health, safety and the region’s economy really worth it?

As nearby neighbours scheduled to suffer the effects of the current Ruakura Structure Plan we implore Tainui Group Holdings to genuinely and sincerely consider alternative development options for the Ruakura area that are less disruptive to the surrounding environment and likely to be a better neighbour than the Inland Port and industrial area currently planned.

ENDS

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