Friday, 1 June 2007

Turner: EnvBoP washes hands of Whakatane

"This is far from being over!" was the determined cry of locally based United Future MP Judy Turner, upon hearing the result of the vote of EnvBoP Regional Councillors to move their HQ to Tauranga.

Mrs Turner is one of three MP's to work with the Regional Focus Group to oppose the move of council headquarters and 130 staff from Whakatane.

The Focus Group has signalled that the next step in battle is to initiate a judicial review of the processes leading to the 9-5 vote in favour of the move.

"Today's announcement adds weight to those suspicions that this decision was a 'done deal' and that the entire submission process was merely a 'box ticking' formality rather than a fair method of hearing and considering the views of the community."

"I am bitterly disappointed in those Regional Councillors who have shown contempt for their constituents and their own staff who rallied en masse to oppose an unfair, unnecessary, and undiplomatic decision.

"The Council cannot wash its hands of its responsibility to the community of Whakatan," said Mrs Turner.

ENDS

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