John Edgar ,  Chair of the Waitakere Ranges Protection Society opposes over 50 private unitary plan submissions asking for most of the submissions to be disallowed.  The submission suggests WRPS opinion should trump the opinions of local residents who made submissions relating to their own communities and private properties.  The W.R.P.S. states “WRPS has an interest in the Unitary Plan greater than the public generally”  – advocating that their interest and opinion should be given greater weight than  residents who have an interest or opinion on the rules in the community where they live.

The Oratia R&R are proud advocates for the protection of   the Waitakere Ranges, and more specifically the Oratia Valley,  and we support the Heritage Area act.  Our submission was in line with those values. Oratia R&R also  support freedom of expression and an inclusive  approach to different opinions and the right to express within the law our  opinions and individual opinions of our residents about  the place where we live. The Oratia R& R Submission on the Unitary Plan can be seen here.    Please feel free to comment below or send any concerns to oratia@oratia.org.nz2. We request that the following statement be incorporated into the Plan in either the Objectives or the Policies relating to the areas depicted in Precinct Plan 1 Oratia Special Subdivision Area and Precinct Plan 2 Oratia Policy Area. Require all activities to • protect, restore or enhance Oratia’s heritage features, or • provide for the social and economic well-being of the Oratia community, or • manage subdivision and development so that Oratia’s rural character and heritage features are retained, or • provide for future uses of rural land that will retain Oratia’s rural character, or • be active in otherwise implementing the LAP and require that fulfilment of one or more of these objectives does not contravene any other.

** Further discussion on this issue at Piha Blog villagevoice.co.nz

** Update 24/7/14 It appears the clause from the Oratia Submission that is being opposed is number 2 below.  As you can see ,the request was for protection of Oratia,  to uphold our legal rights under the Heritage Act and to  uphold the Oratia Local Area Plan, a document required under the Heritage Act which had significant community involvement and outlined Oratia peoples wishes for their community. 2. We request that the following statement be incorporated into the Plan ineither the Objectives or the Policies relating to the areas depicted inPrecinct Plan 1 Oratia Special Subdivision Area and Precinct Plan 2 OratiaPolicy Area. Require all activities to • protect, restore or enhance Oratia’s heritage features, or • provide for the social and economic well-being of the Oratia community, or • manage subdivision and development so that Oratia’s rural character and heritage features are retained, or • provide for future uses of rural land that will retain Oratia’s rural character, or • be active in otherwise implementing the LAP and require that fulfilment of one or more of these objectives does not contravene any other.