I anticipated when I volunteered to assist development with the Tramways Wanganui Trust that planning and the necessary finances would be in place, as well as inclusion in the Wanganui District Council annual plan.
How wrong I was.
But I was not deterred from that vision of achieving all that those who gifted memorabilia, volunteered their time and made financial donations expected.
Although I am no longer with the trust, I feel this has been achieved in some small way.
To all of you, I express my heartfelt thanks for the enjoyment and the experience.
This was not done because I am a tram enthusiast or shed builder - I'm none of those. It was just two factors: a promise to fulfil certain things with a roof and a tram; and to fulfil a vision of how best that development could create a unique part of Wanganui history for the benefit of the people in the city and create a tourism opportunity.
It was vital to create a cost-effective, workable plan if the tram was to run in the city, and I devised a plan which I felt would provide the best outcomes.
I would have thought when I submitted this plan that more discussion would occur, however, little reaction was forthcoming.
The members of the tram committee recognised the advantages and sought comment from others. Council was given copies of the tram route proposal as well as submissions to the annual plan. When I resigned last September, no reviews had taken place as far as I was aware.
The plan offered long-term advantages. The tram system would be part of the city's transport system, operated by a bus company, so rather than buses clogging the central business district, the tram would circumnavigate the CBD and let the buses link to the tram system.
It could also see cars parked away from the CBD and using the tram to get into the CBD. Trams passing every 10 minutes would give people the chance to travel around the perimeter of the CBD, freeing up the CBD as a pedestrian zone.
A feature for tourists could be automatic voice presentations highlighting historic places along the route.
I'm sure the public of Wanganui will be concerned at the time it has taken to arrive at this point. Suffice to say an incorporated voluntary trust is restricted with manpower and finances and much of the progress relies on local companies and organisations through their sponsorship.
Trusts should recognise they are secondary to companies' core business and this can cause delays in getting that assistance.
I always felt this project had to do more than just traverse a short distance along the river front, and this tram and a well-planned track system is the catalyst to what tourism features we try to develop.
Encompassing a fare-paying public contribution will be the only way this will be affordable long term, so we have to make this system the only practical method of traversing the CBD.
People will visit Wanganui not because we have a tram but because we have a tram system which will provide a quick and easy view of this historical city and allow people to visit so many amazing features.
One aspect of the plan which has not remained as planned is the track and overhead system. It obviously works but, in my opinion, does not blend in and represent the historical visual effect as originally intended.
Delays have the ability to destroy planning. Money gifted to the project can diminish in value because of inflation, and enthusiastic volunteers become disillusioned to the point they walk away.
After so much input by so many to develop this unique gift, there is a fear its potential to the city will never be realised.
Current alterations and developments on Taupo Quay suggest those views I have maintained as being beneficial to tourists are now not a consideration in the present district plan.
Hopefully this will not affect the other two historic, and yet to be refurbished, trams also gifted to us and in storage.
