Petrol plant appeal

Press, 9 February 1982, Page 24

Petrol plant appeal

PA New Plymouth A joint appeal against the Planning Tribunal’s decision on an application to establish a synthetic petrol plant at Motunui has been lodged by three Taranaki groups. They are the North Taranaki Environmental Protection Association, the Ngatirahiri Hapu of the Atiawa tribe and representatives of the trustees of the Ngatirahiri Hapu. The appeal will be heard in the Court of Appeal in Wellington on February 25 and 26.

The Governor-General. Sir David Beattie, is named as first respondent, the Planning Tribunal as second respondent, the Minister of National Development (Mr Birch) as third respondent, the Synthetic Fuels Corporation, Ltd, as fourth respondent. and the Minister of Works and Development, (Mr Quigley) as fifth respondent. It is believed the signing of final contracts between the Government and Mobil is being delayed until the outcome of the appeal is known. The applicants assert that

the tribunal should have given more consideration to the infrastructure necessary for the plant; that it failed to consider other possible uses for the gas which would be used as feedstock for the plant; that it exceeded its jurisdiction in granting the plant a water right different from that applied for; that it erred in its comparison of sites: and that it failed to consider adequately matters of national importance in the application. They also say the tribunal failed to give sufficient reasons for its recommendations. ’