Media Statement
Tuesday, 29 September 2009

Hon Peter Dunne
MP for Ohariu
Leader of UnitedFuture

Dunne welcomes Johnsonville Mall go-ahead

UnitedFuture leader and Ohariu MP Peter Dunne has welcomed the planning approval for the redevelopment of the Johnsonville Mall.

“At last! This project needs to go ahead,” he said, after the Wellington City Council’s independent commissioners’ decision.

“There were many in the northern suburbs beginning to wonder if the project would ever be approved, as the Council seemed to keep changing the rules.

“This decision is a good one – for jobs, opportunity and economic growth in the northern suburbs and for Wellington as a whole.

“Now, the developers should be able to get on with the job – from my point of view, it cannot happen quickly enough,” he said.

Mr Dunne said he is aware there is a statutory 20-day period for appeals to be lodged, before the approval can be finalised, but he is urging possible appellants to think carefully before making appeals.

“While I respect potential appellants’ rights, I would make the point that, given that they are most likely to come from commercial rivals, local people will take a very jaundiced view of any further delays to the long overdue redevelopment of the Johnsonville Mall.

“This project has already suffered far too many delays – local people are impatient for it to proceed,” he said.

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