Meeting Notice

Dear TOES members and newsletter recipients

We had a significant amount of feedback in response to our last newsletter which had highlighted concerns with the approach being taken by Auckland City and NZTA regarding the work being carried out on the lagoon side of the new motorway. Agreed plans are being ignored. The outcome is not acceptable to our community.

The common observation was, quite correctly, that if this is how we are treated with the relatively small part of the project (comprising the lagoon side works), how much reliance can the community place on council to deliver what the community is seeking in terms of a suitable restoration on the seaward side.

The community was ridden over roughshod when the motorway was first put through in the 1970's. We have always held fears that the community will be ridden over roughshod again. We have held good faith discussions with all parties over a period of more than 18 months, but now that the works have started those discussions are proving for a large part, by the actions of a few, to have been for naught.  

TOES has received anecdotal information about what is really going on behind the scenes. The process is not transparent. The information would infer that council officers are achieving their own predetermined objectives. Their objectives seem to differ significantly from those of our community's aspirations and the recommendations of the hearing commissioners.

We fear that the debacle with the works on the lagoon side of the motorway could foreshadow more of the same when we get to the foreshore restoration. We are determined that it doesn't.

TOES is presenting on this and other issues at Auckland City Councils Arts Culture and Recreation Committees public meeting next week.

For those who can make it your support would be appreciated, details as follows:

Date:            WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER 2009

Time:            9:30am

Where:         Auckland City Council, Civic Administration Bldg

                    1 Greys Avenue Auckland                  

                    Level 15 Meeting room

The TOES committee is meeting later next week with senior politicians and council leaders to again air our concerns and ensure that the community's aspirations for the area are woven into the process to ensure an outcome which is acceptable to our community.

Any questions or issues please contact:

Jim Jackson (chairman) 027 473 0226
Peter Gibson (vice chair) 027 492 9326