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Environmental Group challenges council plan
Environmental Group challenges council plan in court proceedings
The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) today filed an application for a declaration from the Environment Court that Kaipara District's proposed new plan is unlawful.
"EDS is concerned that Kaipara District Council has notified a review of its district plan without proposing protection of outstanding natural landscapes as required by the Resource Management Act," said EDS Chairman Gary Taylor.
"It did that against advice by its own staff and by consultants.
"Indeed, it has left a whole chapter out of its plan. The chapter numbers are sequential until you get to chapter 18 which is just not there. The plan goes from 17-19 in one step.
"The council has in fact identified its outstanding landscapes but decided to simply leave them out of the plan. Our contention is that it can't do that and has acted unlawfully in notifying its plan without protecting its outstanding landscapes.
"Kaipara District has some very special landscapes that merit protection.
"We expect the Council to respond to the legal proceedings and for the matter to be heard by the Environment Court in the New Year," Mr Taylor concluded.
ENDS
Environmental Defence Society
EDS speaks for the environment. It has influence.
Since 1971, EDS has been driving environmental protection in Aotearoa New Zealand
through law and policy change. That's why it's one of this country's most influential non-
profit organisations when it comes to achieving better environmental outcomes.
EDS has expertise in key disciplines including law, planning, landscape and science. It
operates as a policy think-tank, a litigation advocate, and a collaborator – bringing together
the private and public sectors for constructive engagement.
EDS runs conferences and seminars on topical issues, including an annual Environmental
Summit and the Climate Change and Business Conference.
EDS is a registered charity and donations to it are tax-deductible.
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