Unclear if residents get say in housing debate

A Government-appointed investigator looking into Christchurch City Council’s refusal to approve new housing density rules has met with the mayor, but it is still not clear if residents will have any input.

Christchurch-based mediator John Hardie was appointed last week by associate Environment Minister Phil Twyford to ‘‘understand the issues with housing intensification’’ in the city.

More than 20 residents’ associations across the city are sending a letter to Twyford asking that their voices be heard by Hardie.

The investigation was launched weeks after the council, following strong public pressure from the associations, gave the ‘‘proverbial finger’’ to the Government by defying its requirement to put in place new density rules.

The rules required councils of major cities to allow developments of up to three, three-storey homes per section in urban areas, without requiring resource consent.

Twyford said this week the focus of the investigation was to understand the council’s perspectives. He said there would be no public consultation as part of the investigation and any decision on ‘‘stakeholder consultation’’ was yet to be made.

The investigation terms of reference state Hardie must meet with staff and councillors, and Ngā i Tahu.

The terms talk about considering the views of any stakeholders, if relevant, but it is not clear if the residents’ associations would be classed as stakeholders.

When asked yesterday who the stakeholders were and if residents would have a say, Hardie said he did not want to talk to the media about how he was going to conduct his investigation.

Hardie had a preliminary meeting with mayor Phil Mauger and senior council staff on Tuesday.

After the meeting, Mauger said Hardie was very pragmatic and appeared keen to work with the council. Mauger said there was some talk of speaking to residents’ groups, but he could not remember what the end result was.

He said he believed there should be some form of public participation, but did not want widespread community consultation.

‘‘If you open it up, the next thing you’ve got 300 residents coming forward to you. You would be an old man before you ever got anything finished. You have to be realistic,’’ Mauger said.

‘‘We have got to look at as many avenues of getting participation as best we can without clogging up the system.’’

Riccarton Bush Kilmarnock Residents’ Association chairperson Tony Simons said he did not expect Hardie to consult with every resident, but possibly a small group representing the associations. He said he was not convinced the council would adequately represent the residents’ views.

In the letter to Twyford, the associations said: ‘‘We too want improved housing supply and affordability in Christchurch and are willing to work alongside Government and our council to find solutions that work for our city, but we cannot do that if we are not part of the conversation.’’

‘‘If you open it up, the next thing you’ve got 300 residents coming forward to you.’’

Mayor Phil Mauger