WED welcomes scrapping of Structure Plan, but still fears for the future

Since then there has also been a meeting of the Coastal Reserves Management Committee, which affirmed its decision to support removal of the listed poplar trees on Te Kopua at a cost of $10,000 plus replanting costs. A debate took place at that meeting on whether that decision should have been publicised before the trees were felled. Cr Clint Baddeley and others advanced the argument that publicity invited objections and that they held up projects, which then cost more. Many projects have now followed this philosophy. Many have cost ratepayers a lot of money. Whenever council carries out ‘levels of service’ surveys of ratepayers it finds a majority prefer to save rates rather than spend money on projects such as more footpaths. Council never asked if we wanted roundabouts, a new museum, a new footbridge, a large wharf building, bollards on Cliff St, an unused soccer pitch behind the rugby ground and many other projects. Malibu said, “They have cost millions. This 8 March meeting is an opportunity to discuss the merits of the current system for deciding the future of Raglan and what and how changes could be made.”