Russell Protection Society

Two important applications for our area are going to hearings:
Bay of Islands Community Wastewater Scheme (THE BIG ONE)
29 September 2008, 10am
Scenic Circle Bay of Islands Hotel,
Cnr Seaview and McMurray, Paihia

Paihia Waterfront Redevelopment Project
28 October 2008, 10am
Scenic Circle Bay of Islands Hotel,
Cnr Seaview and McMurray, Paihia

Here is the response to our 2008 Annual Plan submission from the Far North District Council.

The March 5th edition of the Northern News contained a public notice that signalled a resource consent application by the Waitangi National Trust for the development of a huge complex at the Waitangi Treaty grounds. Then the NZ Herald (20 March) and Fairfax New Zealand ran articles about the Historic Places Trust fears that the proposed visitor centre plan would "be intrusive and dominant at precious site". What is going on?

The Waitangi National Trust has proposed the building of a visitor centre, auditorium, theatre, retail space, cafe, restaurant, porte cochere, raised walkway, road access and carparking covering some 5000 square metres (yes, 5000!) and requiring 8000 cubic metres of earthworks and removal of 1500 square metres of indigenous vegetation. It would be located in close proximity to the iconic Treaty House and Whare Runanga, on a grassy slope to the North and adjacent to the golf course that is highly visible from Russell and Tapeka Point.

The FNDC's Draft Annual Plan 2008-09 was open to submissions and we made a four page submission on the critical issues concerning the Russell peninsula such as water and wastewater, district and structure planning, erosion control, stormwater management / flood mitigation, RMA processes and various infrastructure issues.