Plan Change 81 is with the Minister now. Chris Bishop will decide whether to let Tasman District Council bypass his countrywide pause on plan changes and whether to grant TDC its wish for a Streamlined Planning Process that cuts out community appeals. If approved, this would mean no chance of Environment Court oversight. Nelson City Council rejected this very approach for PC29, calling it undemocratic.
All this happened on Thursday, 18 September, in a confidential session of TDC’s Strategy and Policy Committee. Many people might not know this, but in August, the Mapua Master Plan process had been lumped in with the extensive Plan Change 81, which provides and rezones swathes of productive land into residential, business and industrial – not only in Mapua, but also in Motueka, Hope, Brightwater and elsewhere throughout the district.
Why, in the middle of an election period, is this Council choosing secrecy over transparency? Is it because neither the Mayor nor Councillors want to be on record supporting this plan change before you vote? How does hiding their position serve democracy?
Cllr Mark Greening tried to question the need for confidentiality, but was ignored by the Chair, Cllr Kit Maling, who moved to go “in committee” without granting him any time to speak. As a result, you may never know who voted for or against, which motions were passed, or what was discussed.
Just minutes before I spoke in Public Forum. I highlighted the controversial nature of Plan Change 81 and the strong opposition raised during consultation. “Consultation is not meaningful,” I said, “if clear community feedback is simply set aside to justify pre-determined outcomes.”
TDC’s own Audit and Risk Committee has already noted that major decisions should be paused in the election lead-up, when it is usual to take on a caretaker role. Growth and development are among the hottest election topics. Shouldn’t the incoming council, with a fresh mandate, be the ones to make this generational call?
The Parliamentary Ombudsman has reprimanded TDC for excessive use of confidential sessions. So why is such a far-reaching, fundamental decision being taken behind closed doors at this time?
Who benefits from this approach? Neither the Mayor nor Councillors can be held to account. The Council’s administration won’t have to change anything and can keep the process on its merry way. And a select few developers will get what they want. In my view, neither this process nor the outcome of Plan Change 81 will restore trust in TDC.
I told the Council that the best way to grow Tasman and to provide jobs is by reinforcing and leveraging the attractiveness of our district, not undermining it with arbitrary business, industrial, and greenfield residential zones. But my plea fell on deaf ears.
Tasman deserves better than pre-determined outcomes delivered in secret. We need leadership that listens, respects consultation and protects the values that make this district strong. Not three years from now – now. Please vote for change!