By TONY GEE
Protesters objecting to a Corrections Department plan to build a $100 million prison east of Kaikohe marched in silence on an Environment Court hearing at a Bay of Islands motel yesterday.
Accompanied only by the sound of a lone flute player, the 45 objectors marched the short distance from the Te Haumi beachfront in Paihia to where Environment Court Judge David Sheppard, with commissioners Dr Diane Menzies and Paul Catchpole, has begun hearing an appeal by the Minister for Corrections, Matt Robson, through his department.
The appeal is against a Northland Regional Council decision in March to deny consents sought by the department for earthworks, drainage and stream diversion at its proposed prison site at Ngawha.
The minister and his department are seeking to have the decision overturned so work can start next year on the 189ha former dairy farmland site.
Two appeals, one by Shayron Beadle and the other by Ron and Riana Wihongi, against the minister's notice of requirement for the planned facility at Ngawha are being heard at the same time. The court is also hearing proceedings brought by other parties, including Friends and Community of Ngawha, the Ngati Rangi Ahu Whenua Trust, Te Kereru Trust and Eileen Clarke.
For the department, lawyer Philip Milne told the court that the minister now aimed to have the 350-bed prison operational by September, 2003.
Because of delays, the original target of September next year could not now be reached.
Mr Milne said works planned for the prison would not affect Ngawha's geothermal field and hot springs.
Although land use might affect the stream flowing through the site, its quality of water and mauri (life spirit) would not be affected.
It would have no impact on the well-being of people who used the hot springs.
Mr Milne said evidence would be called to show the springs were not wahi tapu (sacred sites).
As well, the land on which the prison was to be built had not been a battle site - although adjoining land to the north had been - and that the area's taniwha, known to local Maori as Takauere, would not be offended by development work.
The hearing may run for up to four weeks until well into October, with a fortnight break after the first two weeks.
Decisions on all the appeals are expected from the court before Christmas.
Prison plan objectors march to court
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