LGOIMA Request Details

As previously advised, we are withholding all official information related to Council's communications with its solicitors under section 7(2)(g) of the LGOIMA, so as to maintain legal professional privilege. The Council has a strong interest in its legal advice remaining private to it and there is a strong public interest in the maintenance of legal professional privilege generally, neither of which are outweighed by any public interest in the information itself.  
We are also withholding information which is outside the scope of your request.  
 
The balance of the documents we are releasing are included in this link - LG_2317_Second_release_of_information.zip

In this final release of documents we have redacted documents that; 

1.  include quotes of legal opinion under Section 7(2)(g) - to maintain legal professional privilege and  

2. the charge out rates on invoices under Section (7)(2)(b)(ii) – likely to unreasonably prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied the information.  

Finally, in response to your requests numbered 3 and 4:  

3.         At any stage was anyone at the Manawatu District Council provided with a report or information from the Health Ministry or any other government entity on the effects of hazardous substances that were to be stored at 393 Wilson Road.  

No specific information was provided from the Ministry of Health (or any other department) on the effects of the substances to be stored at the Wilson Road site. You will see that section 4.7 of the assessment of environmental effect attached to the Ministry's notice of requirement outlines that any effects from hazardous substances would be managed. The planning report on the notice of requirement also observes at 6.1.2.3 that, from 2017 onward, the management of effects from the storage of hazardous substances was no longer a function of the Council under the RMA.  

4.         At any stage during the NoR or planning process, was any council staff member asked by any government official not to notify anything in relation to the plan on national security grounds or for national security considerations?  

No request was made for the non-notification of the notice of requirement or the outline plan on national security grounds.