Ministry decision “short sighted and without basis”

A Ministry of Education decision to declare surplus a block of land adjacent to Kāpiti College, Raumati Beach School, the Technology Centre and Raumati Beach kindergarten has been called “short sighted and without basis,” by the Mayor of Kāpiti Coast District, Jenny Rowan.

In letters to the Minister of Education, Hon Anne Tolley and to the Ministry of Education’s Regional Manager, Mayor Rowan has called into question whether there has been any process of consultation with the local schools or community and is calling on the Minister to intervene to secure the land for the future needs of the District.

“The Kāpiti Coast community has made clear on a number of occasions that it is opposed to the sale of this land,” Mayor Rowan said.

“It alarms me that the short sighted decision to sell the land in Raumati appears to have no basis. In fact it is imperative that this land is retained for future education needs,” the Mayor has told the Minister.

The site is seen to be ideal to meet the growing community needs as it is adjacent to the college, the school, the Technology Centre and the kindergarten.

“Increases in the rolls of adjacent schools have continued at a significantly higher rate than predicted by the Ministry.”

The Ministry also failed to comment on the impacts of the proposed motorway on access to schools within Raumati/Paraparaumu and between Waikanae and Paraparaumu areas during the consultation last year.

“College and primary school rolls continue to grow and yet there are no plans for another college or expanded facilities,” Mayor Rowan said.

Efforts by the Council to find the basis for the decision by way of Official Information Act requests have received tardy and inadequate responses.

“It is clear that there was no robust analysis to arrive at the decision to declare this land surplus and no quality consultation with local education providers and the community,” Mayor Rowan has told the Minister.

ENDS

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