‘Potholes on the road I travel’
Tararua District councillor Sharon Wards encourages residents to share their visions for Tararua 20 years on and metaphorically “plant trees that represent facilities, assets, and services our children and mokopuna will thank us for”.
The councillor talks about the future “rationalisation of our assets”. I suspect that’s newspeak for the privatisation of community property.
Thirty-four years ago the then Labour Government decided to collectivise small communities into large corporate entities, suggesting amalgamations would create “economies of scale” and the disposal of redundant community assets would help fund future development.
Ten years old, Dannevirke’s water supply dam has passed its use-by date and is in dire need of a multimillion-dollar rebuild.
Three years young, Pahīatua’s state-of-the-art water treatment plant has malfunctioned and residents have been told to turn off their taps until the “water supply issues have been resolved”. Summer water restrictions have arrived.
The councillor suggests residents think beyond the mundane needs of basic infrastructure and imagine a social utopia where all enjoy benefits associated with forward planning as we ride down the Yellow Brick Road of prosperity.
“Rationalisation of assets” and water sustainability are potholes on the road I travel.
Mark Wahlberg
Pahīatua
