Kelly Hodel/Stuff
Councillors met in Thames to consider their options on the climate change declaration before it goes out for public consultation.
A Waikato council has been backed into a corner by newly elected councillors pushing for the mayor to reconsider signing a climate change declaration. In 2019, Thames Coromandel District Council and mayor Sandra Goudie voted against signing the Local Government Leaders’ Climate Change Declaration. It’s a decision that’s since cost thousands of ratepayer dollars after Hauraki Coromandel Climate Action Group took the council to court and won. Councillors Tony Fox, John Morrissey, deputy mayor Murray McLean and Goudie’s opinions, however, have not changed.
Climate change: Coromandel mayor will not sign declaration
18 Dec, 2020 01:50 AM
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DEMANDS: TCDC Mayor Sandra Goudie at one of the Tairua water sources, the Pepe. Photo / Alison Smith BTG 18Dec20 - Thames-Coromandel mayor Sandra Goudie said there was still a need for summer sta
DEMANDS: TCDC Mayor Sandra Goudie at one of the Tairua water sources, the Pepe. Photo / Alison Smith BTG 18Dec20 - Thames-Coromandel mayor Sandra Goudie said there was still a need for summer sta
By Alison Smith
Thames-Coromandel District Council broke its own laws by refusing to sign the Local Government Leaders Climate Change Declaration.
Wednesday, 16 December, 2020 - 16:52
The Council confirmed its position on climate change and supported the Government’s recent climate change declaration at today’s Council meeting (16/2/20).
This was in response to a question in the council meeting agenda from Councillor Robert Guyton: In light of the Government’s declaration of a climate change emergency, will this Council, which now finds itself out-of-step with, and behind central government’s position on climate change, upgrade its present approach to match that of many other councils around New Zealand and that of central government?
The Council is well aware of the potential climate change impacts such as more frequent, severe weather events; tidal inundation; freshwater availability and communities’ exposure to natural hazards.