Here's a summary of the Council meeting on June 20.
Council Meeting Discussion
Councillor McKenzie
Recalled past council decisions to lease land and allocate $700k to the Boat Ramp Trust.
Stressed the funds were meant for construction, not resource consent processes.
Proposed advancing $150k for council’s internal costs related to the resource consent process, not transferring cash to the Trust.
Councillor Murray
Sought clarification on the funding details and coverage of costs.
Councillor Blakey
Supported the proposal as a middle-ground solution reflecting the council’s earlier commitment.
Councillor Greening
Raised concerns about transparency and the need for clarity on funding and risk management.
Emphasized the importance of addressing public concerns and the Trust’s proactive role in transparency.
Councillor Hill
Supported the proposal, acknowledging public opposition and stressing the need for a robust process.
Katrina Lee (Resource Consents Manager)
Asked about the coverage of internal costs, including legal and expert fees.
Chair
Clarified the proposal aimed to cover council’s processing costs and stressed the importance of an independent consent process.
Supported funding to enable a fair hearing process and encouraged the Trust to consider community feedback and potential compromises.
Mayor
Concluded the discussion, highlighting the inherently political nature of the issue and the need for an independent resolution through the consent process.
Direct quote: "There is a huge amount of this that is in the control of the applicant, the scale of the application, the conversations they have with people in the community about the scale of the application, all of these things are things the applicant does have the ability to adapt up until the time of the hearings, should they choose to do so. They should take the opportunity to identify the areas where there may be some degree of compromise"
Declared the resolution carried without opposition.
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