Editorial: Sensible thinking prevails

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

Not exactly a U-turn... more of a sideways pivot... but Whanganui District Council on Thursday decided to look at an alternative to the all-bells-and-whistles $42 million wastewater treatment plant.

The decision, carried through on a rider to the annual plan by mayor Annette Main, represents a step back from entrenched positions and is a welcome - and sensible - outcome.

The council has had any number of alternatives thrown at it over the past year or so and has batted them all off.

There has also been no end of opposition to the cost of the proposed plant - including a 1023-signature petition - and it has all been rebuffed.

But, of course, the bottom line is the bottom line, and so when Affco and Tasman Tanning said they would not be contributing to the cost of the plant and, indeed, that the proposed wastewater solution put a question mark over their continued operation in Whanganui - 1000-plus jobs and all - collective minds inevitably became more focussed.

What was becoming a rather heated and bitter debate can now be allowed to cool down, as Talleys - Affco's parent company - has put forward a wastewater scheme that, on the face of it, looks more affordable and more to the liking of the key industrial players. We must all hope that here is a workable compromise.

Compromise is not something that has been around in great abundance, and it takes character to show flexibility when heels have been dug in.

So, well done to the mayor for opening the door.

And well done to councillor Rob Vinsen whose concerns about the cost of the project and the potential of viable options meant he kept asking questions, kept examining new information and kept the issue alive.

And also to chief executive Kym Fell, who may be wondering just what he let himself in for with his new job, but who has fronted up to the industry leaders and, apparently, done so with an open mind.