Bastion Point not shelved — Minister

Press, 12 January 1977, Page 2

Bastion Point not shelved — Minister

PA Auckland The Government's Bastion Point housing plans have not been shelved. The Minister of Lands (Mr V. S. Young) said from Stewart Island yesterday that work would be delayed only until later this week when; he intended to have another ; meeting \>ith the protesters J He would tell the Maori protest group. environmentalists. and the Auckland Trades Council that by holding up plans for private housing they were also jeopardising the gift of more reserve land at Bastion Point and extra housing for Maoris at the Orakei marae. “We have an integrated development plan for Bastion Point,” he said. “If you take out one bit, the whole plan collapses.” The plan envisages about 10 hectares adjacent to the Savage Memorial Reserve being given to the Auckland City Council for park development, 8.3 hectares along the back of the present open space being subdivided and sold for private houses and town-house development, and a further six hectares

set aside for Maori housesi and hostels. “The public cannot expect the Government to give up its interest in the land completely and go ahead with giving reserve land to the city. It is not reserve land, it is Crown land,” Mr Young said. Mr Young has already interrupted his holiday for a meeting with the Bastion Point protesters in Auckland last Thursday. He said he made it cle. r then that the tent barricade would only delay the whole scheme. “They do not seetn to have fully understood, going by their subseqent action.” he said. The Auckland Trades Council, which has banned subdivision work at Bastion Point, the Orakei Maori Committee action group, the Matae Trust Board, and the Auckland City Council will all be represented at this week’s meeting. Mr E. A. J. Holdaway, deputy chairman of the Auckland Regional Authority, said yesterday that it would like to be a party in any discussions overpossiblechanges

to the subdivision plans. The A.R.A. is strongly opposed to any part of the open space al Bastion Point being subdivided, and has volunteered to help the Auckland City Council and the Lands and Survey Department draw up a park-; management plan for the full 1 area. “What disappointed me was that. the public was not consulted before the subdivision plan was submitted to the City Council.” said Mr Holdaway. “I can only believe it was an oversight. “I am sure it is the Minist ’s policy to take the public; into his confidence on occasions like this.” But Mr Young said yesterday the A.R.A. would not be invited to attend. The issue was the City Council’s affair. Mr Holdaway said a decision not to alienate any Crown land at Bastion Point for housing would be “the only possible decision” for the Government to make. The A.R.A. would not be prepared to buy the eight hectares intended for housing. Public open space should not have to be bought by one authority from another.