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Wellington.Scoop
The Wellington City Council tonight voted to confirm the sale of a small piece of land that it owns at Shelly Bay – which is wanted as part of a controversial new housing development.
The council first voted in 2017 to sell the land, and today it debated the sale for a second time and made ” a final decision,” [2] after years of controversy [3].
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Nine councillors voted to sell the land, and six – including Mayor Andy Foster – voted against.
The DomPost reports [5] that after the vote, Mayor Foster Foster called the decision “sad” and “flying against the majority of Wellingtonians.” He reiterated his preference for two legal challenges to be settled before the council made a call on the land sale.
The development plan [6] includes 280 apartments, 58 town houses, a 50-bed hotel, and a rest home for 150 people.
Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh [7] are among those who oppose the development [8], with concerns that include congestion issues on the narrow coastal road. [9]
In the DomPost today, Tom Hunt wrote [10] that the Shelly Bay development doesn’t hinge on today’s vote. But he said the meeting was still crucial. If the council decided not to sell the land, the developers would have to amend their resource consent. And if the council votes for the deal, [developer Ian] Cassels will want to get started immediately.
In the NZHerald, Georgina Campbell wrote [11] that councillors would be voting on one of the most contentious land deals they would ever be presented with.
Four hours of public participation was scheduled before councillors started their debate at 6pm and reached their decision about three hours later.
In support of Mau Whenua at the Council today. The vote on Marukaikuru Shelley Bay is today.#LandBack [12] #Decolonise [13] pic.twitter.com/shdfBJWoji [14]
— Peace Action WGTN (@PeaceActionWGTN) November 11, 2020 [15]
I have been updating the same file all day from the Shelly Bay vote. Here's what everyone had to say and how the councillors voted.
Wellington councillors vote in favour of selling land at Shelly Bay:
https://t.co/ug2a8uYjQv [16]— Georgina Campbell (@GeorgeKCampbell) November 11, 2020 [17]