Titirangi Protection Group - legal appeal fundraising page

Auckland Council appointed commissioners have granted Watercare's application to develop a huge water treatment plant on 3.5hec of native forest in the Waitakere Ranges.

Since early 2017 the TPG has been fighting this development despite clear evidence that it will spread kauri dieback disease.

Now is the time to appeal the decision and we need your support to make this possible.

After evaluating all the evidence, Auckland Council experts stated that the biosecurity risks posed by this proposal made it a non-starter and recommended that the commissioners decline consent. The commissioners went against this advice as well as the evidence from mana whenua, scientists and other experts who spoke on behalf of submitters and gave the go-ahead while citing "public good".

Public good should never justify such a massive wrong, especially when there are alternatives, and when the Council has closed large parts of the Ranges to limit spread of kauri dieback and declared a climate emergency.

This baffling, ill-founded decision leaves the door wide open for a legal challenge, and according to legal planning experts we've engaged, we have a very strong case.

In order to take this case beyond mediation and on to Court we ask for your help.

We are reliant on our neighbours, local businesses and other concerned citizens to come forward and help us make this stand and to allow important work to be done over the coming months as we progress this legal challenge.

Help make a stand for something precious to all New Zealanders – our environment!

Together, we can create a positive outcome that will reach beyond our lifetimes, and create a legacy for our community, for our children, for future generations.

*Previous Givealittle page: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/protecttitirangi