Category: Waitakere Ranges
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Kauri Dieback needs urgent attention
Kauri dieback is a scourge of the Waitakere Ranges. The disease is widespread throughout the west, particularly in Titirangi. Council has been identifying where it is located and has just completed the second intensive monitoring exercise. The first was conducted five years ago. I am afraid that the news is not good. The rate of infection in…
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Oil drilling in Maui’s dolphins habitat up for consultation again.
The yearly block offer for areas the oil industry may want to drill in is again open for consulation. The process has become a yearly flash point for opposition to off shore oil drilling. The offered area includes part of the Tasman Sea about 25 kilometres off the west Coast of the Waitakere Ranges. Theoretically we…
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The Unitary Plan is heading to the High Court
Auckland Council has passed the Unitary Plan. But now the appeal and review processes kick in. As at the end of the statutory mandated timeline there were 105 appeals or applications for review filed. One of them has been filed by the Waitakere Ranges Protection Society. It relates to the decision of the Hearings Panel…
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Should politics be kept out of Local Government?
I always thought this was an absurd proposition. Because like it or not Local Government is deeply political. Keeping politics out of politics may appeal to some but it is never going to happen. I am proudly standing as a Labour Party candidate this year. This is the first time that I have actually had…
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Staff recommendations on the Unitary Plan and the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area
The staff recommendations to Auckland Council concerning the proposed Unitary Plan are now publicly available in advance of the Auckland Development Committee meeting that starts tomorrow. Mostly the terms of the draft plan provided by the Independent Panel are accepted. There are however 63 proposals which staff are recommending changes to. One involves retention of regional…