Agreement on Sports Centre Environment Court Appeal

The remaining appellant to the Environment Court concerning the granting of resource consent to construct and operate the Indoor Community Sports Centre on Cobham Park, Kilbirnie, Mike Mellor, has reached agreement with the Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency on measures to address the concerns raised in his appeal.

A proposed consent order, setting out consent condition amendments, has been filed with the Court. The Council and Mr Mellor are now waiting for the Court's confirmation of the agreed position so that the Council can issue the consent order. Until the Court has dealt with the consent order, details of what was agreed cannot be provided.

Mayor Kerry Prendergast welcomed the news. "I'm delighted the prospect of a costly and time-consuming court case will soon be behind us and we will be able to get on with building this much-needed community facility. Its construction will provide a much-needed boost to the local economy.

"I'd like to thank Mr Mellor for working with Council staff on resolving these issues."

Mr Mellor said "I am pleased that we have been able to identify some pragmatic measures to reduce the likely traffic problems that the stadium will generate, improve pedestrian and cyclist convenience and safety, and to encourage users of the stadium to use sustainable transport modes. Council staff have been very helpful in their willingness to tackle the issues, and I look forward to receiving the decision of the Court."

Another appeal against the resource consent was lodged by Councillor Andy Foster in February. He withdrew his appeal in April, as part of an agreement with Mayor Kerry Prendergast, on the completion of an independent report by Sir John Anderson.