Is Plan Change 78 an open-ended proposal for the people to consider?
No, it is not.
The proposed plan came into effect the same day it was notified (August 18) and the people had no power of refusal or right of appeal.
It is akin to a person being married the moment they are proposed to with no power or right to seek a divorce. This has to be in breach of Section 5 of the Bill of Rights Act i.e. it cannot “be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society”.
The Plan Change and Government dictate under the Enabling Housing Supply Amendment Act must be repealed especially as there is no shortage of housing supply as implied by the Act i.e. The Unitary Plan made provision for 900,000 plus additional dwellings, sufficient for the next 30 years (Auckland Council, Our Auckland, June 28, 2021).
The people must be able to choose their future way of life plus the environmental assessment work wasn’t done. The Government had no right to impose this on the people.
Victoria Lowe
Shamrock Park
