4 June 2009                For immediate release

Mt Albert electorate will fight motorway

The Mt Albert electorate are rallying together to protest against the current motorway proposal. A community march is planned on 6th June at 11.30am along the planned motorway routes, which will culminate in a rally at 2.30pm on No1. Field, Alan Wood Park, Hendon Avenue.

March organiser, Margi Watson says "the march is an opportunity to show the communities deep concerns about the negative impacts the new motorway will have on our communities and environment. It's time to stand up and say to the Government this is not an acceptable or accountable solution. It's a 1950’s solution to a 21st century problem.” 

The group ‘tunnel or nothing’ say the current proposal is environmentally and socially unacceptable and the government needs to look at people focussed, environmentally enhancing solutions to our transport woes - not bulldozing communities for more motorways. The Minister, Hon Steven Joyce forced the NZTA to decide on a motorway route based on a financial figure with limited regard for the health and protection of the residents, the environment, air and noise pollution and the loss of significant green space. This is unacceptable to a community that has been established for over sixty years.  

Of great concern to the community is the fast-tracking of the consent process. The motorway is destined to be fast-tracked with severely limited opportunities for public opposition.  Any rights of appeal will be limited to a legal process which the community cannot afford. The tunnel or nothing group believes the government want to fast-track the project because it will have significant local and wider opposition. 

Norma De Langen of the community group ‘Tunnel or nothing’ says “we can’t help feeling this is a gross infringement of our democratic rights.  They do not want full disclosure of all the information that the public has a right to know because it might result in too much opposition.  Instead they are conducting a ‘sham’ public consultation within a very limited timeframe of 31 July 2009.  With National pushing through reform of the Resource Management Act and the motorway there is no hope for our communities to have a voice – it is unacceptable to our community to watch our environment being destroyed.”

The community are disappointed that Hon Steven Joyce, as stated by him on TV One’s 6pm news on  15th May, that he would come out to meet with the communities in the next couple of weeks. So far he has refused to set foot in the electorate despite numerous requests from residents. “We are concerned about the disingenuous way the government is dealing with the issues and the costs. Instead they are annihilating communities, dividing it with a motorway without the decency to face those whose lives they are tearing apart. It is nothing short of treating the community with contempt” says Margi Watson.

Details of the march:

The march will start at 11.30am on Saturday 6th June at Waterview Park Herdman St finishing at Alan Wood Park, Hendon Avenue with a rally and entertainment.
The March is being organised by the leading residents society opposing the motorway the “Tunnel or Nothing” group
The aim of the March is to say to the National Government and NZTA:
• we value our communities, our homes, our parks and reserves and they are not up for grabs for more cars and pollution

• we want a legacy of neighbourhoods, green spaces, amenities and a clean creek for future generations – not a motorway that was planned in the 1950s

• we want a tunnel or nothing!

ends

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