Friday, March 29, 2024

Council withdraws PC1 appeal

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The Waikato Regional Council will withdraw its appeal to the Environment Court on Healthy Rivers Plan Change 1 (PC1).
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Councillors voted unanimously for the decision after it became clear that the issues that prompted the Council’s appeal will be addressed by others appealing the plan.

Councillors heard that 23 appeals had been lodged with the Environment Court and each have been assessed by staff.

The decision-based version of PC1 recommended by an independent panel following 59 days of hearings last year, was notified in April for appeals to the Environment Court.

Council chair Russ Rimmington said withdrawing the appeal was a “no-brainer” when it was clear the matters raised would still be addressed by the court.

“The risk that these technical matters would not be addressed is now gone and by appearing in court only as respondent, we will reduce this council’s legal costs at a time when we need to be efficient with our spend,” he said.

A Council report said there was “a high degree of overlap between the matters raised by council (in its appeal) and those collectively raised by other appellants”.

While there were five matters not specifically raised in other appeals, two were errors or omissions, which the court would irrespective need to rectify.

The remaining three issues were not considered critical by staff and would highly likely be considered by the court as part of its broad discretion.

The council is party to all appeals lodged with the court and the withdrawal of the appeal would enable a single, coordinated council response to all appellants, councillors were told.

In June, the council had voted to appeal PC1 to resolve some minor technical matters that would better enable implementation of the plan.

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