Awesome Environment Court Decision Protects Coastal Open Space on South Coast

The Environment Court has just (on 15 April) issued a wonderful 28 page decision approving OPEN SPACE zoning for the public coastal land at 178-180 Owhiro Bay Parade (at the entrance to the Te Kopahau Reserve - the former Owhiro Bay Quarry) as requested by the Southern Environmental Association, Action For Environment Inc, Owhiro Bay Residents' Association, and Island Bay Residents' Association at the Hearing on 1-3 March 2010.

The Court has rejected Wellington City Council's request for Outer Residential zoning of the site to provide for housing development.

This means that the land will be protected as open space for future generations - a tremendous result.

Special thanks for this awesome result are owed to:
• The Environment Court.
• Renowned landscape expert the late Barry Chalmers, who completed his evidence for the Court just before his untimely passing last year.
• Barry's partner Joce Chalmers, who provided the constant help and support that enabled Barry to prepare his marvellous evidence.
• Landscape expert Cheryl Robilliard.
• Landscape expert Emma Corbett.
• Planning expert Dave Armour.
• Coastal hazards and climate change planning expert Mike Jacobson.
• Senior barrister Dr Graham Taylor.
• Lawyer Robert Logan.
• Lawyer Sue Shone.
• Botanist Barbara Mitcalfe.
• Botanist Chris Horne.
• Ecologist Dr Maggy Wassilieff.
• Island Bay Residents' Association President Anne Brunt.
• Owhiro Bay Residents' Association Secretary Colleen Cox.
• Owhiro Bay resident Debbie Rawson.
• SEA Chair June Epsom.
• Everyone from the community who attended the Hearing to give their support.
• The committees and members of the SEA, Action For Environment, and the two residents' associations.
• The Environmental Legal Assistance Fund.
• Everyone who has donated money or ideas for the case.
• The Wellington Branch of Forest and Bird.
• The City Councillors who have supported continued open space at the site.
• The korora (little blue penguins) which began to return to the site (after many years of absence due to the quarry) during the time that we were preparing our evidence.

ENDS

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