GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS after last Thursday Meeting
Thank you to all our valued Supporters - for all your efforts over the last few months, to increase our petition numbers, and to send your views to Councillors. Really proud of our combined efforts.
Good and Bad News
We are a small team who have been working on stopping the sale – we worked extremely hard especially over the last month - exhausting. Now we need help please.
THE BAD NEWS
It was very disappointing that we have been let down by some Councillors who said they would vote to save the building . . . but did not. When you look at what happened at the Governing Body Meeting last Thursday, it doesn't seem very democratic to me.
One even went to a ‘function’ instead! She knew this was happening for months, and the exact date for a month, and how important it was to so many Aucklanders. (She was the Deputy Mayor).
And the Mayor himself lead us to believe that he was against the sale, and even had this in his promises to Auckland, in writing, in order to get elected! (‘to Fix Auckland’s Transport’, to ‘follow the wishes of local communities, and businesses needs, and how they want to live, and recognize ‘safety aspects’ AND ‘CEASE THE SALE OF COUNCIL-OWNED CARPARK BUILDINGS’!!!) He let us down, and voted to SELL.
Precinct also came into the Meeting and did a last minute Campaign presentation, that swayed at least one vote. (He is a personal friend of the Mayors).
Several of our supporters were on the Agenda to talk in Public Input, including Heart of the City but were stopped from speaking, at the last minute.
THE RESULT - LAST THURSDAY
Notwithstanding our best efforts the Council voted in such a way that enabled a “conditional” sale of the carpark to Precinct Properties for $122M who intend to demolish it.
This price is about half of its true value which is $250M (as valued now) and despite Council receiving a late offer of $180M for the carpark which included the retention of 1,200 carparks for the public.
THIS OFFER WAS IGNORED BY COUNCIL! They threw $200m of ratepayers money away (taking into account all the compensation and expenses Council have to pay, with the current deal). WE FEEL THIS NEEDS A LEGAL REVIEW to ensure Council have followed due process, to consider all offers, and do the best for the Ratepayers.
The decision does not take account of the will of the people of Auckland and was driven by the car-hating group of Councillors.
We have not only received 10,000 signatures to our petition, we have also spoken to almost every retailer in the lower part of the city and ALL of them want the carpark to remain, and are concerned for their businesses, and have signed a sub-petition to declare this.
ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER: The alternative offer would take 2 years to build, rather than 5 years for the demolition!!
THE RIGHT DECISION WOULD HAVE BEEN: To postpone the vote, and decide in March, after the Councillors had time to review the new offer and new issues that came up during the Meeting.
THE GOOD NEWS – The Save Queen Street Society Incorporated is in the process of filing a Judicial Review Application which we fully support. However, this could cost over $1ml.
WE WILL NEED YOUR HELP TO FIGHT THIS LEGAL CAMPAIGN.
We believe that this legal action will lead to the Carpark being saved and will write to you shortly to seek your help in achieving this outcome.
Thank you again- we will be in touch
Kindest regards
Shery