Farmers appealing against bypass decision
A couple whose home and livelihood will be significantly impacted by plans to build a $200 million bypass at Mt Messenger in north Taranaki will continue their fight through the courts.
Farmers Tony and Debbie Pascoe, who live in the Mangapa¯ peke Valley near Mt Messenger, will appeal against a recent Environment Court decision after a Givealittle page was set up to raise funds to assist with their legal costs.
Court action has already held up construction of the 5.2km New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) project, which includes two bridges and a tunnel, so more appeals will only delay further progress.
Tony Pascoe said they had fielded calls of support from people encouraging them to keep up their fight against the road.
The problem for them is coming up with resourcing to do it. ‘‘We’ve been sucked completely dry,’’ he said.
He and Debbie were committed to doing what they can to challenge the bypass plans but needed backing to do so, Tony said. The bypass plan cuts through land belonging to the Pascoes and would make living in their Mo¯ kau Rd home untenable.
The couple, along with Te Ru¯ nanga o Nga¯ ti Tama (which holds mana whenua in the area), were identified by the Environment Court as being the landowners most affected by the roading project.
Last July, the Pascoes – with Poutama Kaitiaki Charitable Trust – were among those who appealed against the notice of requirement and resources consents previously granted for the new road.
In December, the Environment Court released its interim decision, which generally accepted the planned mitigation and series of conditions in place would address the adverse effects of the project. However, it could not reach a final decision until it received advice on the land acquisition and mitigation package for the ru¯ nanga. Nga¯ ti Tama has been in talks with NZTA since 2016 and a compensation and mitigation package had been developed.
But at the time of the Environment Court appeal hearing no final decision had been made by the iwi on whether it accepted the deal or not.
Since then, the ru¯ nanga had passed a unanimous resolution to enter into an agreement with NZTA.
The next move is for the negotiated package to be put to a wider iwi membership vote, the outcome of which is expected to be known by mid-April.
The Givealittle page for the Pascoes was set up by Marie Gibbs, who is part of the Poutama Kaitiaki Charitable Trust.
The fundraising post explained how money raised through the page would be used to assist with the Pascoes’ legal and court fees, printing and stationery costs and assistance with travel.
The matter was due back before the Environment Court on March 31, and NZTA was directed to file an updated memorandum regarding its negotiations with Nga¯ ti Tama by then.