The recommendation of Commissioners Alan Watson and Terry Brown approving the regional sports park plan change, with minor cosmetic adjustments, was accepted by the Hastings Council on Thursday.
Fortunately, Commissioner Watson’s view of what is required to protect the Heretaunga Plains (apparently, in his view, nothing at all) has recently been strenuously rejected by the Environment Court. Within thirty working days, opponents of the sports park will decide whether to launch a similar appeal to the Court.
Meanwhile, however, Mr. Watson has also just been named as a Commissioner to adjudicate the Ocean Beach private plan change proposed by Andy Lowe.
Based upon reading his less than probing analysis of opposing submissions to the regional sports park, and his wholesale embrace of Council fluffery, I can only pray: God save Ocean Beach from Commissioner Watson’s analysis of environmental issues!
Tom