Harvey wins backing for ranges heritage bill

A full house of 800 people in Henderson last night gave their support to the proposed Waitakere Ranges National Heritage Bill.

They called on the Waitakere City Council to speedily unite behind Mayor Bob Harvey and vote for the draft bill, which since coming out in February has been backed by the Auckland Regional Council and hotly debated by community groups.

Responding to criticism that the council was dithering, Mr Harvey told the meeting that the $550,000 of ratepayers' money spent so far on the bill was "only half the price of a Piha section" and he had no qualms about it. Other Auckland mayors had said "just do it" but the fate of next month's vote rested on the favour of seven councillors.

However, Mr Harvey said the draft bill might have been a little "overcooked" in its wording.

The meeting, which follows a series where landowners opposed to legislation were overwhelmingly represented, was called to rally support for the bill.

Heavy applause greeted one of the speakers, Professor Richard Bellamy, patron of the Waitakere Ranges Protection Society, who said the ranges had undergone unprecedented development changes in the last 10 years. "If it continues I believe we will be too late."