Council backdown results in consultation

Hope resident Murray Kerr is pleased the Tasman District Council is initiating a public consultation process on the future of the controversial Maitai Lodge on Hope Domain but he isn't counting his chickens yet.

The council shifted the lodge from the north-west corner of the domain to a site adjacent to the Hope Hall in May to make room for new tennis courts. However, the move, which cost about $35,000, occurred without any council consultation, leaving some Hope residents, including Mr Kerr, angry that it had shaded their properties and obscured mountain views.

Yesterday, the TDC announced it intended to try to resolve the dispute through a comprehensive public consultation process. Richmond councillor Judene Edgar admitted the council had made a mistake and now wanted to ensure that ratepayers had a chance to have their say.

"The big concern raised by the public was the lack of consultation and I agree absolutely, consultation should have happened beforehand. Listening to the public is critical to everything council does for the community, so we are going to go through that process."

Ms Edgar said it "could be a $35,000 lesson for us" if the lodge was moved again but it would be a bigger concern if the council "didn't learn from this".

Although Mr Kerr was delighted the council had listened to the residents' concerns, he was still angry that it had taken it this long to admit it had "stuffed up". He also doubted that the building would be moved after the consultation process had been completed.

"I am happy that they have listened to the people," he said. "I definitely want the building moved and the children's playground improved but the correct outcome hasn't happened yet."

Mr Kerr also claimed that the council should be held accountable for providing misinformation to residents. He said council staff told him that the lodge could not be relocated to another more favourable site on the domain because it would cover a sewage pipe which he said was incorrect.

The council will start the process by presenting options for the lodge's future at the open day at Hope Domain from 3pm to 6.30pm on September 16. The options would also be displayed at the council offices on Queen St from September 20-24.

Ms Edgar said there would be several options presented, including leaving the lodge where it was or moving it to other sites on the domain.

"The big thing is that it's important for people to look at the information on the options and then make a submission. But it will not be moved off the domain because there's plenty of room there and it's an historic building."

A public submission process would follow. Submission forms would be sent to Hope residents and available to other residents at council offices and the council website tasman.govt.nz

Once the consultation process was completed, the council would make a decision in late October to early November, she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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