Waimarino County Council overturn decision

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 34, 10 February 1987, Page 1

Waimarino County Council overturn decision

A decision made by the Waimarino county Council to refuse an application by the Maori Affairs Department to build four flats for the elderly at Pipiriki has been overturned. At a full town planning hearing on Tuesday 27 Januarv the council turned down the application. The decision was made when county chairman Con Heinold used his casting vote after a tied vote by councillors over the issue. No representatives from the Maori Affairs Department were present at that meeting to discuss the proposal. According to the Department they received no notice of the hearing. Howeverall partiesagreed to hear their evidence and a re-hearing was held on Tuesday 3rd February. Representatives from the Maori Affairs Department. Pipiriki Incorporation and the Wanganui Area Flealth Board were present to discuss the proposal and the decision was reversed. The proposal to erect four one bedroomed Kaumatua flats is a two stage project. The first stage is building the flats prior to 3 1 March 1987. as finance for the project has to be expended by then.

The second stage would be the completion of a sewerage treatment plant designed by Payne Sewell Engineers Ltd. The Maori Affairs Department have agreed to help finance the sewerage system needed before occupancy of the flats can take place — one of the conditions laid down by the county. The flats will house elderly maori people who

have connections with the area and interest is being expressed from these people says Mr Te Maipi from the Maori Affairs Department in Wanganui. The block of land on which the flats are to be built is being gifted to the crown for the purpose of building the Kaumatua flats. It is situated on the corner of the Pipiriki-Raetihi road and Pukehinau street.