13 September 2016
Roskill Community Voice Media Release
Three Kings coverup: Council staff refuse to act on Council resolution
On the day of a major community meeting about the Three Kings Quarry case, Roskill Community Voice members of the
Puketapapa Local Board are expressing grave concerns after the Council organisation refused to act on a legitimate Local
Board resolution seeking planning advice about the Three Kings quarry case.
"In a democracy, it is fundamental that staff follow the properly constituted decisions of elected members. It is
utterly extraordinary in this case that Auckland Council staff have closed ranks to try and shut down the Puketapapa
Local Board's advocacy over Three Kings" says Roskill Community Voice representative Harry Doig, who is also Deputy
Chair of the Puketapapa Local Board and holds the Three Kings Planning portfolio.
The Puketapapa Local Board requested planning advice on the interaction of the Three Kings Plan and the interim
Environment Court decision on Plan Modification 372 (the Fletchers Plan to redevelop Three Kings Quarry). After
initially being told internal planning advice could not be provided in the necessary timeframe, the Local Board has now
been blocked from seeking external advice, despite having a validly made resolution seeking the advice, and a Local
Board budget line to pay for it.
"Once again we feel that the Council organisation is lining up against the community on the future of Three Kings. The
community worked with the Local Board to come up with the Three Kings Plan and the Local Board has invested in further
work to progress the outcomes agreed in that Plan. Yet the Local Board is continually stymied by officers who seem
determined to block local input even after Fletchers themselves have backed down from their original position in the
court," says Mr Doig.
"Auckland Council was embarrassed in the Environment Court when key points such as the depth of the development, that
had been raised by the Board and community, but ignored by Fletchers and Council, were affirmed by the Court. To now
have Council officers decide to simply not implement a legitimate Local Board decision feels like an organisation
closing ranks to protect itself. The actions appear to breach basic democratic norms and we reserve our options to
progress matters" says Julie Fairey, Chair of the Puketapapa Local Board.
ENDS