The Star: October 04, 2018

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday October 4 2018 5
Conduct conflict almost settled
• By Julia Evans
UNDER FIRE David East
and three community board
members appear to be close to
resolving their conflict with the
city council over District Plan
flooding issues.
Coastal Ward city councillor
East, Coastal-Burwood
Community Board chairwoman
Kim Money and deputy
chairman Tim Sintes, and
Linwood-Central-Heathcote
Community Board member
Darrell Latham are facing code
of conduct complaints over an
allegation staff had tampered
with the District Plan.
Cr East said the city council
had put a resolution offer
forward, but he could not
comment on the specific nature
of the offer.
However, The Star
understands it involves the
group publicly apologising for
their actions.
Cr East said the group had not
accepted the city council’s offer
and had gone back with their
own.
“We filed a response to the
council’s response yesterday,” he
told The Star on Tuesday.
“We’re awaiting recognition
of that and to hear further about
the next steps. They’ve made an
BATTLING: Informal
discussions are being
held to resolve the code
of conduct complaints
against four coastal leaders
including David East and
Tim Sintes (below).
offer and we’ve made an offer.”
The root of the conflict is
a three line clause omitted
from the city’s new District
Plan, which came into effect in
December.
The clause would give leeway
to people in specific coastal
areas, deemed at risk of flooding,
to build and extend homes.
Mr Sintes said there had been
several mediation meetings
and an outcome was hoped for
this week. But as Mayor Lianne
Dalziel is in Japan, that would be
delayed.
“We’re working our way
forward, but we still have got to
meet somewhere in the middle
. . . at this stage, we’ve agreed
that’s confidential . . . there’s a
difference of opinion so we’re
not there yet,” he said.
However, Mr Sintes said the
group was “sticking to its guns”
and not backing down.
Dr Latham, who has been
vocal in The Star and two of its
community newspapers Bay
Harbour News and Pegasus Post,
was surprisingly mute when
contacted yesterday.
“We’ve made a commitment to
confidentiality.”
City council chief executive
Karleen Edwards confirmed
they had met twice to try and
resolve the issue informally.
The Star asked Dr Edwards
who was at the meetings, what
the outcome was, and what
resolution offers had been made.
She did not answer questions,
stating it was confidential.
“The process is ongoing,
therefore I have no further
comment.”
However, Cr East confirmed
discussions were still in the
informal stage.
“None of us really want to go
down the formal route, but that’s
not to say we wouldn’t if things
hit the fan.”
Last week the city council
approved a proposal for
Greater Christchurch
Regeneration Minister Megan
Woods to utilise her powers
under section 71 of the Greater
Christchurch Regeneration Act
to add the clause to the District
Plan.
Local
News
Now
• By Sophie Cornish
Fire rages, homes at risk
Charges close
over deadly
hit-and-run
CHARGES WILL soon be laid
for the fatal hit-and-run in
Dallington that killed 30-year-old
Steffan Pearce-Loe.
Detective Senior Sergeant Greg
Cottam confirmed on Tuesday the
investigation is in its final stages.
He said charges would be laid in
the “next couple of weeks,” but he
wouldn’t reveal what they were.
In July, Mr Pearce-Loe was
killed when he was hit by a vehicle
near the Gayhurst Rd bridge
as he was walking his dogs at
about 2.30am. He was found by
members of the public in a critical
condition and died from his
injuries the following day.
The vehicle’s owner did not
stop. Two days after the incident,
police found the vehicle involved
– which had damage consistent
with the crash – after a detective
spotted it parked up a driveway.
Car parts located at the scene
and CCTV footage were reviewed
by police to establish the make of
the vehicle involved.
The vehicle’s owner was
interviewed by police. Police
would not comment on the
owner’s age, gender or account of
what happened.
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