The Western Bay of Plenty District Council will defend an allegation that it damaged three archaeological sites last year.
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust alleges that the council, knowing or having cause to suspect that three sites in Athenree, Waihi Beach and Maketu were archaeological sites, damaged them between May
4 and July 1, 2009.
At a recent status hearing in the Tauranga District Court last month, legal counsel for both parties confirmed to Judge Christopher Harding that a defended hearing would be required to resolve the three charges.
Judge Harding urged the lawyers for both sides to think about their respective positions to try to get consensus on the facts not in dispute to reduce the hearing time. The matter will be reviewed again this month.
Court documents reveal that the trust alleged that on May 4, 2009, the council committed an offence against Section 99 of the Historic Places Trust Act 1993, in that it knew or had reasonable cause to suspect Athenree Homestead was an archaeological site and damaged it.
The council also faces the same charges in relation to alleged damage to Island View Reserve at Waihi Beach between May 6 and 8, 2009, and Te Awhe Road at Maketu on July 1, 2009.
Historic Places Trust media adviser John O'Hare said because the matter was before the courts, it was inappropriate to comment.
