Friday, May 23, 2014
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THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY
ASHBURTON
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Glitz and glamour came to Methven last night as Mount Hutt College hosted its annual school ball, attended by 150 young people.
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Bridge vote causes outrage in chambers BY MYLES HUME
MYLES.H@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
Calls of outrage were hurled from the public gallery yesterday when Mayor Angus McKay again used his casting vote, this time to confirm the route for the controversial second bridge project. At an extraordinary meeting, councillor Darryl Nelson unexpectedly declared a conflict of interest and withdrew from debate and voting because his sister-in-law and her husband were directly affected. Meanwhile, councillor Alasdair Urquhart this time included himself to vote. Advice given to Mr Urquhart
to declare a conflict of interest in the previous vote on a motion to revoke the bridge route on November 28 was “based on false information”, he said. Councillor Don McLeod moved to adopt the recommendation saying although it would cause some heartache, he felt the commissioners’ report was “full, fair and factual” in support for the bridge route. When it came to voting it was tied at six-all as councillors Neil Brown, Rod Beavan, Alan Totty, Mr McLeod, Martin Nordqvist and Mr McKay voted in favour of confirming the independent commissioners’ recommendation to go ahead with the land
designation application for the future construction of a second bridge across the Ashburton River. Councillors Urquhart, Stuart Wilson, Donna Favel, Ken Cutforth, Russell Ellis and Peter Reveley voted against the recommendation, leaving Mr McKay to break the deadlock. Mr McKay said he had given councillors the undertaking when it came to a casting vote he would go with the status quo – and that was the notice of requirement in place. “If I voted no to this would that change present council policy, I believe it would?” Mr McKay asked chief executive
Andrew Dalziel, who replied with “yes”. When Mr McKay voted in favour, comments of “we knew you would” and “you’re a disgrace to the chair” resounded from disappointed members of the packed public gallery, while one sounded a sarcastic “yahoo”. Bridge Action Group spokesperson Diane Rawlinson said the group had not yet decided if they would lodge an Environment Court appeal, but they were “hugely” disappointed with the outcome.
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