PRESS STATEMENT

Helene Ritchie
Wellington City Councillor

A public outcry is predicted by long serving Councillor Helene Ritchie against the wall of buildings proposed for the waterfront.

These three buildings will fill the “gap” of the wall.

Not one member of the public who submitted supported Variation 11-which changes the rules from zero height to an allowable thirty metres, allows three buildings, and denies the public further say.

Variation 11 is just another version of Variation 17..a wall of buildings, in this instance completing the wall right along from Frank Kitts Park to the railway station and up,to 10 storeys high (30 metres) according to the latest advice.

The public meeting in the Town Hall against the then proposed wall of buildings Variation 17 was the largest I have ever experienced in my time as a City Councillor.

It is not only the height of the buildings, it is the buildings themselves, the bulk and the loss of invaluable precious open public space-for ever, the shading, loss of sun, loss of views.

This Variation is neither in the interests of the people of Wellington or the Waterfront.

It is in the interest of private and developer interest.

Precedent shows that the land will be subdivided and sold (precedent: long term leases-120 years Overseas passenger Terminal, Meridian 100, Shell 999years).

New roads will replace open space-just as they have behind the Meridian building and be called “open space”

The public is furious. I know because they have told me and are telling me.

Helene Ritchie

Councillor

ENDS

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