Irongate property owners are asking Hastings District Council councillors to step in to resolve a long standing dispute over development contributions that they say has cost the region jobs and lost business opportunities.
Irongate Stakeholder Group spokesperson and former Hastings district councillor John Roil, who represents about 12 to 14 landowners at the Irongate industrial precinct, said that during the recent annual plan process questions were raised about the issue.
At that time councillors called for a collective meeting to address those questions and concerns, he said.
"We left the meeting with the understanding that this was the agreed direction forward but have now been told that councillors will be given a one-sided workshop by council staff, followed by another report with a likely decision still three months away.
"The former mayor Lawrence Yule has proudly stated he wanted 1000 jobs in five years in the district, yet his council has been holding back local and national businesses from relocating to Irongate for over 10 years."
The stakeholder group said consultation had also been one-sided despite the council's development contributions policy stating that consultation would be undertaken at the earliest opportunity.
"We did have a meeting with staff last year chaired by a councillor but we didn't get an opportunity to have our questions answered. They dodged around the issues and we're still in the dark," said Mr Roil.
Irongate property owners were being asked to front up for the total cost of infrastructure costs, such as water, when the entire community was set to benefit, he added.
"The council is not adhering to its development contributions policy, which states that a fair, equitable and proportionate portion of the total cost of capital expenditure necessary to service growth over the long term."
Acting mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the council had a strong focus on economic development and helping businesses create more jobs, and that it was pleasing that a number of large developments had either paid or were in the process of formalising developments, particularly at Irongate.
She said the council specifically considered whether to include Mr Roil and the Irongate stakeholders group at a workshop, but councillors flagged concerns about fairness for other developers if the Irongate group was given another opportunity to present their case to the council.
"The workshop will give all councillors, particularly new councillors, the background information that supports the underlying policy of development contributions, how they are calculated, and in relation to Irongate how they have been allocated.
"In essence, this will enable all councillors to come up to speed on this issue and consider Mr Roil's requests."
It was the council's intention to answer Mr Roil's and the stakeholders' questions raised during the annual plan hearings after the workshop, she said.
She disputed Mr Roil's claim the stakeholders had not been consulted with, saying there had been extensive consultation with landowners over a long period of time.
The aim of the development contributions policy was to ensure that costs incurred were allocated to those who benefited from services provided in a fair, equitable and proportionate way in accordance with Local Government Act provisions, Mrs Hazlehurst said.
"Council have asked staff to report back in response to all questions raised through the annual planning submission process and will consider all opportunities to improve any fairness and equity issues if appropriate."