It’s only been 18 months. SIRRL announced plans to return to Waimate for what they are calling information-sharing sessions six months after lodging a resource consent application. However, in an unpopular move, the company requested attendees to register for the sessions by providing the company with their full name and email address.
Dr Crispin Langston, one of five Waimate GPs opposing the plant, said the group believed the information sessions must be a “truly open and accessible forum.”
“We do not believe that the proposed series of self-contained, essentially private meetings will achieve that goal.”
Langston was concerned the requirement for people to register for the meetings would “inhibit free speech”.
“It is well recognised that the best way to genuinely hear a community’s concerns is to have a larger public meeting with questions initially sorted and presented on behalf of the audience, before opening to the floor.”
Langston also said a “truly open public meeting” also means that, more specifically, informed participants can follow the answers and help others achieve a better understanding.