Further delay likely on gondola decision

Press, 27 June 1989, Page 3

Further delay likely on gondola decision

The Ministerial decision on the Port Hills 1 gondola could still be several days, if not weeks, away. The Minister of Conservation, Mr Woollaston, had hoped to release the already delayed decision yesterday. Depending on his reading of a Crown Law Office report on the department’s decision, publication could be some time off yet. Mr Woollaston rejected accusations of

procrastination and delay made by a Waimairi District councillor, Cr Brian Shackel. Cr Shackel said last week that the Minister had dragged the chain on the decision and thus cost the gondola’s developer, Payeo Developments, Ltd, money. Mr Woollaston yesterday defended himself and the Conservation Department, saying he had been “rigorously careful” with the decision.

He had received the department’s recommendation on the gondola last week and had just received the law office’s report on that. He would study the law office’s report and hoped to make his decision public this week.

If the law office found fault with the department’s recommendation, Mr Woollaston would have to reconsider the matter, which would put a decision back some weeks.