I wish to express my thanks for the amazing public support for the notice of motion to the Planning & Policy committee to make helipads in residential areas a prohibited activity.
Special thanks to the 120 local residents who, on a cold, wet night, turned out to the public meeting, to the hundreds of people who sent emails to the Mayor and councillors, and the 4196 citizens who signed the Quiet Sky petition presented at the beginning of the committee meeting.
Special thanks also to Quiet Sky Waitematā, especially Elena Keith, Jeanette Budgett and Rick Thevenard, and also for leading the battle against the latest helipad consent at Rawene Avenue and for appealing council’s decision to the Environment Court.
Private citizens should not have to go to this expense to do the work of a council which they pay so dearly for in ever-increasing rates, for the right to the peaceful enjoyment of their homes and properties.
Unfortunately, as explained in my column, due to procedural manoeuvring and what I consider an abuse of democratic process, no vote on the notice of motion was allowed. Instead, it was replaced by a motion-without-notice contrived to maintain the status quo. Here I must thank my colleagues who joined me in voting against the replacement motion: Cr Kerrin Leoni (who seconded the notice of motion), Cr Chris Fletcher, Cr Wayne Walker, Cr John Watson, Cr Greg Sayers and Cr Ken Turner. The affair does not reflect well on Auckland Council, confirming why a recent ‘Auckland@15’ survey revealed a ‘low trust in council governance’ with only ‘18% of Aucklanders feeling they have influence over council decisions'.
The blocking of the notice of motion is deeply concerning for council democracy because notices of motion are really the only way councillors who are not a part of the council power structure can get issues of concern to the public onto the agenda.
In the meantime, all the effort was certainly not in vain, as explained in my column, we are winning and council is now on the back foot defending an untenable position.
Mike Lee, Councillor for Waitematā & Gulf
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