Appeal may cost councillor his posts

Wellington city councillor Andy Foster could lose two lucrative council posts for holding up the construction of a $46 million indoor sports centre with an appeal to the Environment Court.

A furious Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast said his action was an "ultimate betrayal" that would cost ratepayers dearly.

"For a councillor who constantly lectures us on fiscal responsibility, I think it is the ultimate betrayal that he is willing to waste hundreds of thousands of dollars of ratepayers' money appealing something that has broad councillor support and community support."

Mr Foster opposed the 12-court centre at Kilbirnie's Cobham Park during the resource consent process, saying it should be sited on port land or above the Westpac Stadium concourse.

But Ms Prendergast said Mr Foster was told by the commissioners that it was not appropriate to debate the site of the centre through the Resource Management Act process.

His refusal to heed the advice and to lodge an appeal amounted to an abuse of the democratic process, she said. She stopped short of calling for Mr Foster's resignation.

"But I personally have a big problem with what he has done and think that he has to choose whether he is a member of the public or a politician. We really need to ask Wellingtonians whether they want Andy Foster to resign."

She threatened to strip him of his council urban development and transport portfolio and his directorship on the council-owned Capacity board, a move that would cut his annual pay by between $35,000 and $65,400.

An unrepentant Mr Foster said yesterday that the mayor's focus should not be on him but on finding the best location, and best price, for "the city's most expensive recreational facility ever".

"She can play personality games. I won't."

He said most Wellingtonians thought the council was wrong to build the centre at Cobham Park and he had received a "steady stream" of support for his stand.

"I'd also say the council has almost been at pains to avoid any substantive public debate about this issue over at least the past three years."

Sport Wellington chief executive Paul Cameron, who has led the decade-long campaign for an indoor centre, was appalled by Mr Foster's appeal.

"It just makes me sick that a councillor can do this. It is just gut-wrenching and he shouldn't be allowed to get away with it.

"I certainly think he would need to review his involvement with council ... he has essentially spat on his colleagues."

The council would evaluate in the next few days how much it would cost to defend the appeal.

- © Fairfax NZ News