Calls for deferral of reserves proposal decision

Some reserve sites identified in the proposal. Photo / Andrew Warner / Rotorua Daily Post.

Rotorua MP Todd McClay has called on the district council to delay its decision on a controversial proposal to sell 10 reserve sites for housing until after the October local election.

McClay says he finds it 'disgraceful” the public did not hear about the proposal until the media revealed it.

The council proposes to revoke the reserve status of 10 reserve sites and sell six to Kāinga Ora for public and affordable housing and the rest to other developers.

Public submissions - most of which were against the proposal - were heard over four days late last month. There were over 600 written submissions.

Speaking to Local Democracy Reporting, McClay says he believes the current council 'should not make the decision over the reserves”.

"It's so close to an election, it should be campaigned on.

In his view: "A number of people who are not going to be on the council in a few months' time shouldn't be making a decision that the city obviously feels so strongly about.”

Rotorua MP Todd McClay. Photo / Andrew Warner / Rotorua Daily Post .

He believes it would be "reckless of the council to rush a decision at this time".

"A few more months will allow the new council to consider everything fully and properly to make sure whatever decision is made, the public is brought with them.

"I'm calling upon [elected members] to not make the decision now, to put it off for the next council.”

McClay is also calling on the council to "release all information and documentation they have in relation to discussions with the Government over public housing or emergency housing on these reserves".

"There's been ... a lot of speculation, it doesn't help, it's probably making the situation worse. I think we need full openness and disclosure here."

He says he doesn't know what any unreleased documents may reveal.

"The council owes it to the ratepayers and voters of Rotorua to release that fully and show complete transparency on this issue."

McClay also says he's disappointed submitters at the hearings on the proposal faced points of order and interruptions from elected members.

He says the members of the public have "taken time to come forward and speak about an issue that's important to them".

"I don't understand why points of order are taken or elected officials say they take offence. The public has a right to come and have their say."

The council and mayor Steve Chadwick were invited to respond to McClay's comments.

Council district leadership and democracy deputy chief executive Oonagh Hopkins says it's the council's view all information and documents related to discussions with the Government on public or emergency housing on Rotorua reserves, from January 1, 2021, to April 30, 2022, have been made publicly available via official information requests.

She says the documents are available to view on the council's website.

"Additional information has also been made publicly available via media inquiries, general council information and through committee and council meetings and reports."

She confirms the council will make a decision about the proposal on August 25.

Chadwick was asked if she would consider suggesting to elected members to defer the decision, and if she believed the council could have had conversations about the proposal in public earlier.

Chadwick says she didn't consider it appropriate to "undermine" the process under way - including consideration before the Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee on Thursday this week - "by pre-empting deliberations yet to be had or decisions yet to be made".

"I'm sure Mr McClay understands the importance of due process."

A spokeswoman for Housing Minister Megan Woods says she will not respond to McClay's comments as it's 'a council matter”.

A Kāinga Ora spokeswoman says the organisation did not have any comments to make in response to McClay's.

-Local Democracy Reporting is public interest journalism funded by NZ On Air.

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2 comments

Stinks!!

Posted on 11-08-2022 08:09 | By The Professor

This stinks of corruption and backhanders. Sounds like all the decisions are made and no matter what happens, these reserves will go. Disgraceful and so unfair on the local people.


Absolutely

Posted on 11-08-2022 08:59 | By Kancho

Well said Todd absolutely the right thing to do. If this council continues to make this decision they deserve to be shamed and rejected should they attempt to stand again for council. If leaving council they shouldn't be making this decision either as they are not there to be held accountable. It's a no brainer on a very controversial move. Shame on them


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