One-day reprieve in reclamation fight

Jim Jackson speaks to supporters during the protest against the motorway. Photo / Martin Sykes

Onehunga community protesters have won a day-long reprieve from road-building bulldozers after Auckland City indicated yesterday it was preparing to shoulder responsibility for restoring their waterfront.

But more than 40 community members resolved at a rally last night beside the existing motorway - which the Transport Authority is preparing to double in width - that nothing less than an 11ha reclamation allegedly promised by the Government in the 1970s would be acceptable.

The Onehunga Enhancement Society says it has a legal opinion that contracts entered into then remain binding in law, and could form the basis for a judicial review.

Last night's protest was called in haste after the emergence of construction hoardings on Monday, when contractors indicated they would start clearing vegetation today between the motorway and an inland lagoon.

The agency undertook last year to stay off the waterfront until April 1, to allow time for a funding agreement on the reclamation to be reached with Auckland City and the regional council. Enhancement society chairman Jim Jackson said last

night the agency had agreed to a one-day delay, pending a meeting with him this morning in which he will seek a memorandum of understanding committing it to an 11ha reclamation.

Although the agency has agreed to contribute $18 million to a potential bill or up to $48 million for the project, it has refused to manage the job, and insisted Auckland City take over. That will be matched by a contribution of $10 million from the city.

The Transport Agency's refusal to manage the restoration led to an emergency informal meeting of councillors including City Development Committee chairman Aaron Bhatnagar, which called for staff recommendations that the council take control of the restoration project.

Mr Jackson said his group did not want delay but needed to ensure that promises did not remain unfulfilled.