Council accused of flouting own rules

Forest and Bird accuses Selwyn Dist Council allowing road reconstruction without resource consent for moviemakers

8 November 2004
Claims of an environmental double standard for a multi-million dollar film being made in the South Island.

Forest and Bird is concerned that five-metre-wide new roads have been constructed above Cave Stream on Flock Hill Station to provide access for "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."

Field Officer Tony Lockwood claims Selwyn District Council allowed the roads to go ahead without resource consent.

He says that after a fuss was made, the council arranged resource consent, but without any public notification or referral to councillors.

Mr Lockwood says the council would have thrown the book at any ordinary person trying to do that amount of work without applying for permission.

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