Save the Suburbs! Fight the Ellerslie Racecourse Rezoning!

Dear Members,

A day after our AGM, we received the news that the Council had reversed its decision to decline Plan Change 168. We intend to fight this vigorously on your behalf. You will recall ERROS represented you well at the hearing and the plan change was declined.

With your continued backing as a final push we can come through victorious again.

The Council has made this decision on the basis of “new” information provided by the Racecourse – but we have seen nothing which makes any substantial, positive or beneficial alteration to the proposal as it was first presented. As an example, we have seen the results of traffic modeling stating there will be minimal increased traffic. This data was provided by the racecourse and accepted as accurate by the council. The council has not required nor sought independent traffic data collection and we view this as unacceptable and irresponsible.

This is of course, a critical time for ERROS members, especially those who live in the immediate vicinity of the Racecourse and ERROS sees no alternative but to present all your concerns to the Environment Court.
These included traffic, loss of residential amenity, shading, parking concerns and the size and density of the development proposed.

Heres what you can do to help :

•Pay your $20 membership fee and any payments you feel you may have missed

•Upgrade your membership fee to a $50 donation. If everyone of our members make a $50 donation we can get at least one expert to appear on your behalf in court.

•Spread the word among your friends and neighbours. Try to persuade them to join us, attend the movie night and make a donation

Our success at the Council Hearing did not come cheaply and our coffers are almost empty – hence our request for funds. However we have used the funds wisely with the total spend being less than $25,000.

Any ERROS member is able to give evidence before the Court – however all witnesses are able to be cross- examined by the Racecourse’s lawyers. For further information about this please contact Geraldine (524 7285)

Sincere thanks to those who attended the Annual General Meeting, and to all our members who have supported us so well over such a long battle. We appreciate the faith you have placed in us and assure you we are unflinching and relentless in our efforts on your behalf, regardless of what further twists, turns and strategies this matter may take. We would never have come so far without you and we have no wish to see all our efforts wasted at this stage.

Karen Fahey
ERROS Chairperson

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An update for you all.

Following the successful outcome of the Council Hearing, where the Commissioners voted to decline the Racecourse’s application for Plan Change 168, the Auckland Racing Club has appealed against that decision.

This means that the matter will now go before the Environment Court, and ERROS has registered as what is known as a Section 274 Party. The main parties are the Auckland Racing Club and the Auckland Council. Section 274 parties are secondary groups who register to support either one of the main parties – ERROS will of course, be supporting the Council.

We cannot say when the Court Hearing will take place, but it is possible that ERROS may be involved in some mediation sessions – this is quite a usual process and simply means that the parties concerned will try to resolve as much as they can before the matter goes to Court. In many instances this is not possible, but sometimes some progress can be made.

Again, we can give no timetable, but we will be keeping our members informed of any developments as they happen.

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Hearing Date: 9:30am Thursday August 19th to Tuesday 24th August

If you have raised a submission and you’ve asked to speak…

The hearing will be held in the Reception Lounge, Level 2, Town Hall, 301 Queen Street. The dates are Thursday August 19th to Tuesday 24th August, with Wednesday 25th also available if necessary. Start time is 9.30am each day. Those who indicated their wish to speak at the hearing should by now have received notification from the Council. If you have not heard anything, please contact Geraldine at 524 7285 or email to jeanlaw@xtra.co.nz.

A quick summary of how the process usually works, for those who may not have experienced it before:

THE HEARING

It is conducted by a panel of, in this case, four Commissioners appointed by the Council. The Racecourse spokespersons will present their case first – that is expected to take most of the first two days. Then the Council’s representatives have their say – and then it is our turn. After all that, the Racecourse has the last say. You can only be questioned by the Commissioners, and they will do so only from a genuine desire to seek information. In other words this is not an alarming situation – a serious process, but not nearly as formal as a Court of Law.

EVIDENCE

You should aim to speak for 10-15 minutes (and make sure you have the 25 copies with you), and concentrate on what it is that upsets YOU about the prospect of the type of development that this Plan Change could allow in your area. Submissions can be made individually, or you can form a group and elect one person to speak for all. You will need a covering sheet with the evidence, signed by all the persons represented, and authorising your elected speaker to present the evidence for the group.

Remember that ERROS exits because you support it – and it will happily support you.

If you need any further information about the hearing, or about putting your evidence together, then do feel free to use the contact listed above, and the ERROS Committee will be pleased to assist. We will send you checklist of things to think of, when preparing to attend the hearing.

We hope that some of you may find time to attend parts of the hearing even if you are not speaking, as this will indicate that there is a real concern from the community and it will be noted by the Commissioners.

Let us hope that we can achieve a better result – for the present and for the future.

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No doubt you all know by now that the hearing for 168 has been delayed by the Racecourse so they can “undertake further traffic modelling work”. It is a shame that so much money has to be spent preparing for this hearing when the comments on this website clearly show that most people didnt need any traffic modelling done to realise the surrounding streets cant deal with the current throughput of traffic, far less any more.

The new hearing date is rumoured to be August but we will keep you informed.

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As you have probably already heard Christmas Market Day is coming to Ellerslie and is proudly presented by ERROS. Take a stressfree approach to your Christmas shopping this year with stalls a-plenty heaving with produce, toys, and treats for the whole family or just for yourself (go on youve earned it) in a festival atmosphere of music, entertainment and fun. Raffles, sausage sizzles, enormous christmas cakes the list goes on and on.
The best part is that you as part of the Ellerslie community, can be involved. Yes you. Little old you. Yes you, the the one pointing to him/herself mouthing the words “who me?”

Great!!! A Traditional Christmas Market Day. What can I do?

We need kind hearted souls that like a bit of Christmas baking, for the cake stall and all the proceeds go to the stalwart of community societies ERROS who desperately need the funds for a couple of consultants to help you guys. Actually even if your no good at baking get someone you know who is to give you a lesson and then submit your efforts for sale at the cakestall. Its fun, its easy, and its covered in icing (unless its jam)

So get baking, the cakestall will happily accept, cakes, biscuits, muffins, scones, homemade jam/marmalade and lamingtons

If your not the baking kind, we have a way for you to help too. We need Books for the bookstall and Crockery for the Bric-a-Brac Stall so any old (or new, no problem with new) china, glasses, cup and sauces and or plates

How do I get my baking (and/or books and crockery)  to you? And when?

You can pop down and see us as well set up for the market day
Masonic Hall,
9A Robert St.,
Ellerslie

on
Thursday 10 December and Friday 11 December during business hours

or

Jackie can come and pick it up from you. Just call Jackie Senior 5205496 and have a chat to her about collection.

When and Where is  Traditional Christmas Market Day, again?

Masonic Hall,
9A Robert St.,
Ellerslie

on
Saturday 12 December 8.30am – 3pm

A great day for a great cause, see you there!

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