Wed 6th Dec - Community 'orchard' at Waterloo Park, Hokowhitu - final PNCC decision

Rosemary from Hokowhitu

You may know that the proposal to exchange part of Waterloo Park reserve was turned down by a majority of Councillors at the PNCC Strategy and Finance Committee meeting on 15th November. An alternative option, to retain the existing reserve and develop it as a new accessway to the river, and potential community orchard, was instead passed by a majority of Councillors at the same meeting.

www.stuff.co.nz...

However the battle is not yet won!

These voting decisions have to be adopted, or otherwise, by full Council, and this is due to happen at their meeting next Wednesday, 6th December.
Councillors will vote again, and there will be some present at this meeting that were not involved in the previous meeting, and may not agree with the previous majority votes.
Another who voted to decline the reserve exchange last month is apparently overseas and not going to be there to vote on Wednesday...
Some Councillors believe that last month’s decisions will get upheld with few problems, but that was before the recent press about all the cuts that PNCC will have to make in the upcoming 10-year plan to keep rates rises 'reasonable'.
However another has suggested getting “Retain the Reserve” supporters back into the chamber on 6th along with banners and cardboard cut-outs etc. (see picture in newspaper article above), as "without the noise and pressure some (Councillors) will fold".

Please, if you possibly can, come to the Council meeting in the PNCC Council Chamber on Wednesday 6th December to watch the proceedings for this item, and show your support to "Retain the Reserve". My best guess is 3 pm...

(Unfortunately I can't give a really good estimate of what time this item will come up. It is Item 23 out of 26 public items, and Items 24 to 26 seem fairly short. But, there is then a further part of the meeting that is public-excluded, another 5 items.
You can keep track of the meeting progress on the day by watching the live video link on the PNCC website).