Let Palmy Vote | Our petition is on the record. We will be heard.
On 23 September, we presented the Let Palmy Vote petition to Palmerston North City Council under urgency. Council recorded 923 signatures at the time and noted our petition in its formal comments on the Bunnythorpe Business Park fast-track referral. A data centre is identified as one possible use within the proposed business park.
Council said it did not support the proposal going through fast-track. It questioned whether fast-track was appropriate for a development of this scale and complexity and raised concerns about flooding, water, wastewater, traffic and the limited opportunity for local people to have a say.
Being mentioned in Council’s comments is one step. We still need a way to be heard directly.
On 30 October, Council confirmed that it had mentioned our petition in its comments and that the petition itself was not sent to the Environmental Protection Authority. We had a chance to speak to Council under urgency. So far, we have had no direct opportunity through the referral process to put our comments and concerns before the decision-maker.
The first decision is whether the Minister for Infrastructure will refer the proposal into fast-track. If the Minister agrees and the developer lodges a detailed application, that application would be assessed separately. Council has asked for the Greater Bunnythorpe Committee to be invited to comment if the project reaches that stage.
We’re looking at our next steps now. That includes how we can get the petition itself and the updated signature count before decision-makers, and how residents can have a genuine opportunity to be heard before major decisions are made.
That’s why growing the petition matters now. The 923 signatures were our September count. Every signature since then strengthens our call for clear answers, independent assessments and a real say for the people who could be affected.
If you haven’t signed, please sign today. If you’ve already signed, share the petition with three people and tell them why you signed.
We will not be silenced. We will be heard.
Fact check before you fast-track. Let Palmy Vote.
Sign and share the Let Palmy Vote petition
Read PNCC’s fast-track update
Angela Culling
Stop Data Centres Palmerston North