XRŌ activists with duct-taped mouths and T-shirts reading ‘CLIMATE EMERGENCY’ appeared at the Christchurch City Council meeting on Thursday, 28 January, to protest the council’s lack of transparency regarding plans for a new international airport at Tarras, in Central Otago.
A resolution was to be voted on that morning to exclude the public from discussions about a letter of expectation for the airport project.
Under heightened scrutiny the council unexpectedly voted 8 to 6 with a result that the public would not be excluded from the discussion of letter of expectation covering the proposed Tarras Airport. Following this vote, the draft letter of expectation was opened up to public scrutiny, leading to some concerns from the protestors. “The draft letter of expectation that we got to see once we weren’t excluded lacked substance when it came to Tarras and the climate. For instance, the district target for zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 in no way restricts emissions from Tarras airport, which would be out of district. Also, any attempt to restrict Tarras related emissions are virtually meaningless unless the emissions of the actual flights are taken into account.” Said Extinction Rebellion Ōtautahi group member Sara Campbell.
Read the XRŌ press release made following the meeting here and Press coverage here.
