EXCERPT: GE Free Northland chairwoman Zelka Grammer applauded the council for committing to the consultation...
"This is a really bold and innovative approach in response to the concerns of the public," she said.
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Residents can have say on GMOs, district council decides by Mike Dinsdale
The Northern Advocate (New Zealand), 2 Feb 2006 http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3671041&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=
There was drama, emotion, claims and counter-claims but after almost two hours of debate, it's been decided that Whangarei residents can have a say on the release of genetically modified organisms in the district.
The Whangarei District Council yesterday voted to take part in an extensive consultation process - in conjunction with other local authorities from Waitakere north, on the contentious issue of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), or genetic engineering as it is also known.
Councillors also voted to adopt a precautionary approach to the release of GMOs into the environment and lobby the Government and all other political parties to address the regulatory gaps over the liability faced by councils over the release of GMOs in their area.
The public consultation process will gauge the level of community support for local and/or regional regulation of GMO land uses, the level of risk the public is willing to carry, and whether regulation of GMO land use be under joint central and local government.
The consultation was recommended in a report on the risks of GMOs commissioned by councils in Northland, Rodney and Waitakere.
The report - Community Management of GMOs II: Risks and Response Options - found Northland's billion-dollar-a-year farming and tourism industries could be at risk if GMO releases are not controlled. It also said the risk of environmental and economic damage from GMOs is very real in Northland.
Yesterday's debate was robust, with all councillors expressing strong opinions on the issue, though several said the item was about risk management, rather than whether genetic engineering was good or bad.
But with comments ranging from "ban GE" - Councillor Sue Glen - to "the report is laced with anti-GE rhetoric" from Cr John Williamson, it would seem that was exactly what the debate was about.
With a small group of anti-GE campaigners in the public gallery cheering after every statement opposing GMOs, councillors Frank Newman, Greg Martin and Ann Shaw applauded Cr Williamson for saying that the council needed to hear the "whole story" on GE.
However, Cr Kahu Sutherland said the risk from GMOs was too great and the council did not have the mandate to expose "our community to the unknown".
The district council has set aside $10,000 for the consultation along with the Waitakere and Rodney District councils.
The Far North and and Kaipara District Councils have yet to commit the same amount to the process.
All the district councils would need to support and fund the consultation before it goes ahead Northland-wide. The Northland Regional Council has declined to furnish the full amount at this stage, but the process is not dependent on its contribution.
GE Free Northland chairwoman Zelka Grammer applauded the council for committing to the consultation.
Ms Grammer said a 7000-strong petition given to the council several years ago opposing GE - the largest ever given to the council - sent a message that the public wanted a say on the issue.
"This is a really bold and innovative approach in response to the concerns of the public," she said.
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Whangarei District Council agenda item on GE Initiative http://www.wdc.govt.nz/agendas_online/CL_1022006/A676449.html
Briefing Paper on GE Initiative
http://www.wdc.govt.nz/agendas_online/CL_1022006/r677140.pdf
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