Submission claims promises broken

Agenda 21 principles scattered through Hamilton city's proposed district plan are concerning Hamilton Citizens and Ratepayer Association members.

In a planned submission to the proposed plan, the association, Brian Haskell and president Rod Bowman claim public comment is effectively suppressed through the cost of purchasing copies of the plan ($330), an overload of new material and short and misleading notification of changes.

Concerns are listed under 10 headings including broken promises to Rototuna residents, being anti-car, rate increases, more urban sprawl, increased building costs and unnecessary restrictions.

The submission says the association sees the council 'foolishly hanging its hat on the Resource Management Act' whilst over interpreting its requirements; and council gives the impression it is trying to get as much of the UN-inspired Agenda 21 up and running before the recent RMA change and more changes mid-2013.

It says the plan's only purpose seems to be compliance with the RMA 1991 - unnecessary and paving the way for unrealistic and costly rules - and ensuring primacy of the central city.

"The aim to maintain the central city is unfair and ridiculous," according to Mr Haskell in the submission document. "It will prove a costly and losing battle against reality.

"Council's King Canute approach fails to realise that customers and workers will have the final say, and win. Giving pedestrians priority on CBD roads will impede traffic, offer less car parks and further encourage internet buying."

He says ratepayers do not expect the city council to direct where businesses are sited and intended restrictions on office and retail development outside the CBD is a bureaucrat's dream, unrealistic and inefficient.

The submission documents 'broken promises to Rotoruna residents'. It says despite land being brought into the city 23 years ago promises to developers and citizens have yet to happen - a local town centre with a library and aquatic centre (an essential component of the urban fabric, according to planning at the time).

Mr Haskell also claims unnecessary restrictions on housing will suppress owners' rights, increase building and development costs and increase rates.