Bay proposal bad taste, Sir Peter says
WELLINGTON: Sir Peter Jackson has delivered a scathing critique of the Wellington City Council’s plans for a major development.
In a long Facebook post to his 2 million followers, he likened the council’s actions on the Shelly Bay proposal to something out of The Sopranos or communist Albania.
Included in the 5000word post are copies of emails sent between council staff and developers, discussing roading needs if the development was to go ahead.
Emails showed the council was considering ignoring the advice of a report which said a 14mwide road and 8m of pedestrian paths should be built for the road, instead opting for a 6m wide road with 1.5m of pedestrian space.
Sir Peter said the council was willing to ignore its own reports on the required width of the road, and ratepayers would have to swallow the cost of the roading.
‘‘That the WCC is prepared to ignore the advice of its own experts is deeply concerning, but it comes as a shock to see the ease that Wellington ratepayers are being thrown under the bus (assuming there is actually a bus service operating at the time),’’ Sir Peter said.
‘‘And why should they care? There was no accountability, and the council appeared to have a welloiled practice of slipping huge budget blowouts through the system with minimal public outcry.
Sir Peter said local residents were against the development, and the fight would get uglier.
Late last year consents for the $500 million project were quashed by the Court of Appeal, which ruled Wellington City Council had got the law wrong issuing the project consent.
The developers, Taranaki Whanui and the Wellington Company said the project’s designers had been challenged to deliver not only highly efficient and sustainable structures, but also beautiful building forms befitting its pristine coastal environment.
RNZ sought comment from Wellington Mayor Justin Lester but got no reply. — RNZ