August 27, 2015
Council refuses Ihumatao plea
Auckland councillors have voted to continue supporting the controversial Fletcher Residential development at Ihumatao in Mangere.
Seven councillors had signed a letter to put the issue of the special housing zone on the agenda for today's full council meeting, but only five voted in favour of withdrawing support.
The Save Our Unique Landscape group presented a petition to the meeting saying the 33 hectares next to the Otuataua Stonefields Historic Reserve was culturally and environmentally significant and should be protected.
They suggested there was land beside nearby Ascot Rd at mangere which was more suitable.
Labour's housing spokesperson, Phil Twyford, says Housing Minister Nick Smith is riding roughshod over the community in his drive to get the 480-house development through.
He says Government pressure to roll out Special Housing Areas on the city fringe is loading unfair infrastructure costs onto the council.
He's calling on the Government and the Council to taihoa and sit down with the community to address the concerns that have been raised.
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