On the last day of her Christmas “holiday” last Wednesday (January 10th) Minister for the Environment Marion Hobbs
attended a meeting in Te Aroha Bay, Arapawa Island in the Marlborough Sounds between residents and members of the
Marlborough District Council who have zoned East Bay for industrial mussel production.
Unlike the The Man Sent By Sanfords a few days earlier Marion Hobbs was warmly welcomed by residents.
Scoop photographers David and George Mclellan recorded the event. In this second set of images the meeting Marion Hobbs
attended is recorded.
For more background to what the meeting was about see Betty Rowe’s column - Save East Bay: A Gold Rush To Vandalism.
The Scene (1) – In the BBQ area behind the homestead.
The Scene (2) – A glimpse of East Bay can be seen in the background.
Lilly Valley Resident (and Scoop Columnist) Betty Rowe - spoke on History of East Bay
Te Aroha Bay Resident Marcie Rowe – spoke on Environment and Current Uses of East Bay
Te Aroha Bach-owner Stephen Thompson - spoke on behalf of for absent resident Ben Wybourn on planned industrialisation
of East Bay
Wharehunga Resident Rachel Reece - spoke on inadequacy of public consultation and legal process in relation to East Bay
planning decisions
Question and Answer session with Marlborough District Councillor (and planning committee member) Michael Griggs – East
Bay Bachowner Margaret Thompson (right) is chairperson.
Marion Takes Notes/Sees Something Interesting
The chair of the MDC Regulatory Committee Ian Mitchell is standing behind the Minister wearing a black hat. Both
Mitchell and Griggs had left before the Minister made a brief address to the meeting.