Joint Statement Rodney District Council and Members of the Auckland Land Developers and Builders Group

October 28, 2004

Plan Change 62 Settled – Time To Move Forward

In an historic settlement, the Rodney District Council and the major appellants to Plan Change 62, have reached agreement on the content of the Plan change, which is a provision for financial contributions to be paid by developers towards the cost of providing necessary infrastructure to service growth in the District.

The settlement was reached in special mediation sessions coordinated under Judge Bollard of the Environment Court. The agreement brings to a conclusion the longest running appeal in the history of the Court. The Council and the major appellants initialed the agreement today, and the remaining appellants have agreed to sign by the end of the week. The sign-off will implement the provisions of the Interim Decision handed down by the Court in October, 2003. The Plan Change has been before the Court since 1999.

Both the development community and the Council can now work together with certainty about sharing the cost of capital infrastructure works which will service new growth in the District, and also fulfill the opportunity to improve levels of service for existing residents up to current standards. The appeal had focused on the methodology for allocating costs between developers and existing ratepayers for new infrastructure projects that were being built to provide services both for new population growth and to raise service levels for existing residents.

The Council intends to implement the new provisions of the Plan Change early in 2005. A detailed schedule of new capital works proposed for the next ten years needs to be undertaken and reviewed by a special audit committee to ensure that the planned expenditures will provide an efficient service network. In addition, the Council has developed customer service software that provides front counter information on financial contributions as they will affect each individual property in the District. Installation of the software, and staff training in its use will also have to be undertaken.

The agreed Plan Change seeks to ensure a fair and equitable allocation of the costs for new infrastructure, and provides the necessary certainty for both developers and existing communities as to the schedule of new works to be developed.

Vijaya Vaidyanath Chief Executive Officer Rodney District Council

Ian Boocock Director Cabra Holdings Ltd. for Auckland Land Developers and Builders Group

ENDS

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