A total of 43 wide-ranging questions have been submitted.
Four of the requests have been answered, one partly. One important fact revealed is that no sale or agreement over the almost one hectare of land has been signed. The remaining requests have been acknowledged as required under the OIA. Here are the questions in the order they were submitted.
- We request a copy of all documentation and records held by the Council in relation to, or associated with, the below documents to enable me to assess whether urgent legal action is required and to be able to provide information to relevant experts (for potential evidence in any submission or court challenge) to assess the impact of the proposed development on the Claudelands area. This includes elected members’ emails, text and communications and any communications with Kainga Ora.
- Sale and purchase agreement(s) relating to Sonning Car park.
- Any contract(s) relating to either the sale or development of Sonning Car park.
- Any documents relating to the proposed development at Sonning Car park either prepared by the Council, its committees, the developer or any expert.
- Any records of any decisions made by Council or by a Council committee relating to the sale and development of Sonning Car Park.
- All expert reports or discussion papers or other documents held by Council relating to the Sonning site and nearby Waikato River relating to the proposed development and the impact of the development including relating to:
i. geotechnical issues;
ii. vehicle congestion issues;
iii. use of services such as waste collection, aging
infrastructure;
iv. environmental issues including on the Waikato River and it banks;
v. impact on historical issues such as relating to Maori history at the site;
vi. alternatives for the site;
vii. any other relevant information to inform me of essential information that I need to provide to relevant experts (eg geotechnical, congestion) or to assess the urgency of any court action. - Copies of all consultation documents provided by the Council to any person or entity or group.
- Copies of any submission or correspondence provided by consulted parties to the Council.
- Any correspondence that provides additional information to the above that is relevant and necessary for me to consider to properly assess any legal or other action.
- The total number of rateable properties within the proposed new Claudelands HHA.
- The total capital value for the current reporting period for all properties within the new proposed Claudelands HHA.
- The total rates levied for the current reporting period for all properties within the proposed new Claudelands HHA.
- The total land area covered by the new Claudelands HHA.
- Did Council consult with Te Ha O Te Whenua O Kirikiriroa Ltd (ThawK) over the proposed 262 apartment Sonning Car Park development?
- If ThawK was involved, we request a copy of thereport.
- Was there any consultation with the Maori committee?
- We request a copy of the contract between ThawK and the Hamilton City Council.
- Where does the funding for the contract come from?
- What is the annual value of the contract in the latest 12 month reporting period?
- Who are the members of ThawK and what are their tribal affiliations?
- When is the contract due to expire and when will expressions of interest for delivery of iwi consultancy services be advertised?
- What year did Hamilton City Council acquire the land at Opoia Pa/Sonning Car Park , 191-197 River Road, Claudelands?
- Howmuch did the Hamilton City Council pay to acquire the land at 191-197 River Road,Claudelands?
- What is the current Capital Value of the Opoia Pa/Sonning Car Park site?
- What are the rates?
- What is the current zoning?
- Are there any specific matters recorded in the District Plan such as notable trees, significant natural regional asset and archaeological sites?
- In the latest financial year, what total revenue was achieved before costs from the operation of the council car park at Opoia Pa/Sonning Car Park site?
- Who was the first European owner of the site and in what year was the land acquired and the consideration?
- What use of land has occurred since the time of the first European owner? It is understood the Ministry of Works used the site and later it became the site of the Hamilton Girls’ High School boarders hotel. Is this correct and are the years of occupation of both the M.O.W and HGHS available?
- A copy of the Hamilton City Council’s proposal to the Government’s Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF) which based on the Waikato Times article was approved last week just before the Local Government elections. At the community meeting on October 2, an HCC staff member confirmed this application was being made.
- The documents requested in a previous LGOIMA request (below). With the information in the public domain now, there is no valid reason under the Act to withhold this information.
Any records of any decisions made by Council or by a Council committee relating to the sale and development of Sonning Car Park. HCC Response
We are refusing this aspect of your request as any relevant Council/Committee decisions were made in a Publicly Excluded Economic Development Committee Meeting. As such, the Reports and Minutes of said meeting are being withheld in accordance with S7(2) (h) of LGOIMA – to enable any local authority holding the information to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities. This is not to say this information will not be released in the near future. - All engineering, council and any other reports relating to foundation and piling work required for the Sky Casino, Waikato Tainui Novotel Hotel and the IBIS Hotel.
- All reports relating to the security of the banks bordering the Waikato River and river path required as a result of the construction of the Sky Casino, Waikato Tainui Novotel, the IBIS.
- The 1999 report by Opus and NaMTOK with archaeologist Dr Gary Clayton relating to the IBIS Hotel which identified a Ngaati Wairere urapa, Te Toka Ahurei, associated with the Kirikiriroa Pa.