Press Release - Fighting Fund

Press Release

The Onehunga Enhancement Society (TOES) today announced it's setting up a fighting fund to finance a potential legal challenge against the Onehunga motorway project. 

TOES is not opposed to the Onehunga motorway development, and wishes to see the project completed by 2011 and within budget, including mitigation promised by Government in the 1970s.

"The motorway project will destroy an area of historic heritage and cultural significance to the people of Onehunga, and mean the community will lose its historic connection to the foreshore and harbour," said Jim Jackson Chairman of TOES.

Onehunga originally had over 7 km of untouched shoreline. Over the years, nearly all this has been lost to government projects and other public works.

"Government recognised this situation when planning the motorway during the 1970s. It agreed to mitigation measures to compensate the community, but only parts of these were completed during the first motorway stage in the seventies. The balance must now be completed during the coming second stage."

In an exhaustive effort over the last 18 months, TOES has been unsuccessful up to now in convincing all government agencies and local authorities to protect the Onehunga foreshore and develop meaningful public access during the motorway project.

We believe Government has unfulfilled historic and legal obligations to the Onehunga community.  

"Based on the current situation we have little option but to proceed with planning for a legal challenge to the motorway project" said Jim Jackson. "We are not prepared to have the community ignored again."

A public meeting will be held at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, 16 December 2008 at the Onehunga RSA to start raising funds.

The Onehunga Enhancement Society, 3 December 2008