We write to express our concern at the rezoning of 217ha of rural land to industrial in Marton. The land is bounded by Wings Line, State Highway 1, Makirikiri Rd, and the Main Trunk rail line.
A report produced for the council says this rezoning could create 1800 to 2400 jobs. If partners and families are taken into account, this would almost double the population of Marton over the next 10 years. These figures are from a Berl Economic report, Upper North Island Industrial Land Demand(2015).
Our concern is that a population increase of this size would change the character of Marton and put strain on lifestyle and community services such as housing, schools, supermarkets, medical facilities etc., etc.
Yet, apart from council notices in the Monitor and brief reports in the Whanganui Chronicle and Manawatu Standard, which only put a positive spin on the rezoning, no attempt has been made to communicate with the general population of Marton and the Rangitikei. It's time for a public meeting where all parties can take part in an open, frank conversation.
Because we made a submission to council, we attended an invitation-only meeting at the council offices on November 26. NZ Bio Forestry Ltd outlined its proposal to use woody biomass to make bioplastics by a process being developed in Malaysia and bio-coal by a process called torrefaction. It also mentioned transporting logs to the site by rail west to east from Taranaki and by road south from Taupo on SH1. This would mean a heavy truck volume of one every 20 minutes, four days a week during daylight hours (logging trucks are not allowed on public roads at night). Also, two new railway sidings at Marton Junction.
