Wellington voters must be fully consulted on all costs related to managing Watts Peninsula before councillors make a decision on ownership of the land, say candidates standing under the Independent Together ticket.
Efforts are being made by council to quickly push through a decision on the future of the land on the promontory of Miramar Peninsula, as proponents appear unsure whether it will get through after the election in October.
The land under discussion is owned by the taxpayer, by the Ministry of Defence and Department of Corrections, which owned the former prison on Mt Crawford.
“The city council is looking to bind ratepayers to another added cost of between $750,000 and $1 million a year – or even more – to manage this land even though the government has not yet indicated exactly what it wants to do with it,” says Mayoral Candidate and councillor Ray Chung.
The council and local iwi have proposed taking over joint management of the land, and putting the cost onto Wellington ratepayers. Local iwi have yet to offer a contribution so it’s unknown whether ratepayers will pay all costs. Furthermore, the public doesn’t know the criteria for selecting representatives to manage this land, and the term of these appointments. Important information is absent from ratepayers.
“The proposal has very little detail, yet council wants to urgently approve this deal,” Ray says. “Land that is owned and managed by the government will fall on Wellington ratepayers for no added benefit than already exists.”
Independent Together candidates for the Eastern Ward Michelle McGuire and Ken Ah Kuoi say the current council is ill-equipped to make a durable decision on this matter only weeks out from an election and when it’s divided and driven by party political agendas.
“Proponents of this deal are pulling the wool over ratepayers’ eyes, convincing them that the city is getting a good deal. What’s being paid for by taxes, will soon be paid for by rates. The council is moving payment from the right pocket to the left pocket, in a classic bait and switch movement,” Michelle McGuire says.
“A decision on the future of Watts Peninsula should be delayed until after this year’s local government election, and only made after comprehensive and meaningful community consultation is held,” she says.
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