12 February
Tasman District Council Environment and Planning Committee Chairman Cr Michael Higgins said today that a petition circulating in the Motueka area opposing a McDonald's restaurant will have little impact. A resource consent has already been issued and Cr Higgins is satisfied the consent was processed properly, in accordance with both the Resource Management Act and the Council’s resource management plan and that appropriate design and other conditions were in place to ensure the site was developed to a high standard.
“The petition, which does not disclose the petitioner, misunderstands the resource consent process. McDonald's is building on commercially zoned land and restaurants and takeaway premises are anticipated within this zone. The proposed McDonald's restaurant only required resource consent for some relatively minor dispensations,” Cr Higgins said.
Cr Higgins also explained that through the Tasman Resource Management Plan, Council had limited its ability to impose conditions to certain matters, which did not include funding the Keep Motueka Beautiful litter cart.
“Rubbish receptacles will be located on site but people generally need to take responsibility and not dump wrappings on roads and footpaths whether they come from McDonald's or any other establishment.”
Cr Higgins also said that despite comments in the media, Council was not able to use the resource consent process to influence people’s dietary behaviours.
The resource consent application was processed on a non-notified basis because the effects of those parts of the proposal which did not meet the permitted activity criteria for the commercially zoned land were considered to be minor. In addition, the applicant had provided the written approval of all the parties who were adversely affected by the proposed activity, which included neighbours and Transit New Zealand, which it is responsible for management of State Highway 60 (High Street).
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