A Selwyn District Council meeting ground to a halt when a public speaker refused to leave the table.
Peter Schnell demanded answers from the council over a pit on his Creyke Rd property, near Darfield, in what is a longstanding disputebetween his family and the council.
He made a presentation to the meeting in the public forum, but refused to leave his seat until he had an answer from the council.
Schnell said the council had offered him a $13,000 compensation package and to “take responsibility for what’s been dumped in this pit by the council”.
He rejected that offer because he had spent $15,000 on lawyers seeking reparations, and had also sent the council “an account for all the material they have extracted and dumped in there”.
He demanded “a realistic conversation of paying my account”.
“I want answers. After 50 years, we’re starting to get a little frustrated. All you can do is offer me an insult and a compensation package.”
He threatened to stop paying his rates until he either received a realistic answer or the council took him to court.
“And I would like an answer today, so I’m going to sit here until I get one, or you can have me forcibly removed by the police.”
At that point, Broughton, who noted that he and chief executive Sharon Mason had met Schnell recently to discuss the matter, said the councillors would not be able to provide an answer at the meeting.
“We are not going to get into a backwards and forwards here.”
Schnell then refused to vacate the chair.
Broughton adjourned the meeting as members of the public gallery began to leave.
“This is not the way we conduct business in this chamber,” the mayor said. “We are here to listen to you, and we have done that sensibly, and we do not feel that is the right way to go.”
As the councillors, staff and public cleared the room, Schnell rose from his chair, exclaiming, “I think I’ve made my point” as he walked out.
Mason said the council maintained its position that it had no liability for the pit, as gravel extraction was originally undertaken more than 70 years ago with the consent of Schnell’s grandfather.
“Council ceased operations prior to 2003, and Schnell has had full control of the site since then.
“Council has offered two resolution options, both including $13,000 compensation for historic use and a five-year discounted licence. One option involves Schnell purchasing the reserve land via the Department of Conservation.”
The offers would remain open until September, she said.
