Media Release: Michael Wood, Labour candidate for Mt Roskill

3 November 2016

Time for pragmatic negotiation over Three Kings Quarry

Labour candidate for Mt Roskill Michael Wood is calling on all parties involved in the Three Kings Quarry dispute to engage in pragmatic negotiation to resolve the issue.

"Three Kings quarry is a site of huge potential in our community. With good planning we could have a significant quantity of high quality affordable housing, connected into the surrounding community and Three Kings Town Centre, an outstanding network of public open space to support the growing population, and restoration of our precious local maunga Big King", says Michael Wood.

"Unfortunately the current plan supported by Fletchers, Auckland Council, and central government doesn't deliver that outcome. The local community supports a significant housing development on the site, but has raised valid concerns about the plan including:

• Development being in a 15m-19m 'hole' leading to a poorly connected auto-dependent community.

• A carve up of publicly owned reserve land to the detriment of community interests.

• Adverse affects on 'Big King', the one remaining volcanic cone on site after the other three were quarried away, and a regionally significant natural feature.

"I have also expressed a concern that no undertakings have been given for the development to include desperately needed affordable or social housing"

"All of the community's concerns were affirmed in the recent Environment Court case, which supported significant development on the site, but called for a number of changes to fill levels and design. The Environment Court ruling was in effect a pragmatic compromise that would allow a large development to occur, while addressing some of the community's concerns"

"There is now a legal stand-off with a High Court case looming. The legal battle could go on for years. Instead of that I am calling on the parties to engage in pragmatic negotiation to reach a settlement based on the sensible compromise put forward by the Environment Court. If necessary, an independent mediator should be used to help reach a settlement"

"We all agree that Auckland needs more houses, so I am calling for sensible people to come around the table and negotiate an outcome that lets development proceed, while addressing community concerns. I am very familiar with this issue through six years of involvement on the Local Board. In my role as candidate, and MP if elected, I will play my part to help reach a sensible settlement"

ENDS

See earlier coverage of the Environment Court ruling here:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/82823959/Fletchers-Three-Kings-Quarry-plans-hit-a-speed-bump

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11686530

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1608/S00168/three-kings-environment-court-ruling-a-victory-for-community.htm

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