Councillor Gagged At Public Meeting On Auckland Unitary Plan
Media Release from Cr Dick Quax - Howick
Monday, 15 April 2013
Councillor Gagged At Public Meeting On Auckland Unitary Plan
Auckland Councillor Dick Quax is outraged that he was gagged at an Auckland Unitary Plan consultation meeting held in Pakuranga this evening.
Councillor Quax who represents the Howick Ward was attempting to pass out his “save our neighbourhood” brochures when he was approached by Council officials and told to stop handing out his material.
“Council states that it wants to listen to the community and I want the community to know that there is more than one side to the debate on intensification and the official version that is being promoted has downsides”, says Cr Quax.
“The level of intensification planned around the Pakuranga town centre is extraordinary and alien to our cherished New Zealand way of life.”
“The Plan is not based on evidence as required by law but is full of guesswork and miscalculations such as the mayor claiming that there are 15,000 construction ready sites when in fact less than 2,000 are available.”
“My community and the all of the Auckland community should be infuriated that their elected representative is being gagged by officials of the Auckland Council.”
ENDS