Green School has plans for ecovillage

NEW PLYMOUTH: It has been revealed the Taranaki Green School at the centre of a political funding row has aspirations to create an ‘‘ecovillage’’ including 20 houses at its Aakura site.

This is news to Green Party coleader James Shaw, who says he knew nothing about it before granting the school nearly $12 million.

He has since apologised, describing the move as an error of judgement. He also said the money would probably now be in the form of a loan rather than a grant.

The Green School is owned by Michael and Rachel Perrett.

In November last year, they began lobbying the New Plymouth District Council for a district plan change to allow ‘‘residential activities associated with the school’’ in an area zoned as rural production.

In April, the council approved the sale of several paper roads on the site for $165,000 plus $10,000 in fees.

Councillors were told the sale would help the school expand its roll to 500, but there was no mention of an ecovillage or a residential development.

Kaitake community board chairman Doug Hislop said there had been whispers about housing at the site for some time, but nothing official.

‘‘My understanding is that they’ve always intended to have a settlement up there for the parents, I think, of their international students. That’s the way I understand it.’’

He said the paper roads would have been an impediment to any subdivision because they could not be built on, but with them gone, normal planning rules would apply.

‘‘And what happens to it subsequently is there are rules in the district plan where if the owner so wishes they can apply to the council through the district plan for a consent to build on it or create lifestyle blocks or whatever it is they want to do.’’

New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom declined an interview, saying his discussions with Mr Shaw focused only on shovelready projects.

The Green School also declined an interview. In a statement, it said it had always been open about plans for the ecovillage and they were not required as part of the Shovel Ready funding application.

Mr Shaw also turned down an interview, but said he knew nothing about the ecovillage. — RNZ