When residents bring facts, council will listen

Jay Kuten PHOTO/FILE

Every now and again I'm pleasantly surprised to have some good news to discuss, and this time it's the saving of our gracious London plane trees in Taupo Quay from the axe.

That's good news in so many ways. Foremost it's that, in this case, the means justifies the ends. The decision was important but equally important was the process that helped Wanganui council to a reconsideration.

I had written of disappointment with council for its initial vote because I felt that process was flawed by unnecessary haste and a striking absence of real debate.

The only choice put before council then was cut the trees or possibly lose business in the city due to potential interruption of power supply. It turns out that choice was a Hobson's one - as forced and imminent as it appeared, the democratic process made evident that there was room for reconsideration.

A small group of dedicated citizens did the heavy lifting of informing themselves of the facts about the trees and their relationship to the plans for development of the Quay site. The available material from Powerco regarding its plans for the business environs was thoroughly researched as was material obtained under the Official Information Act regarding costs and the bases of estimates given previously.

A petition was compiled with 1800 signatures of local citizens. This was done carefully avoiding the use of social media so as to minimise the risk that this matter would attract the attention of outside participation and such publicity as might reflect negatively upon our city - as has happened in the past when local controversy has been exploited for creation of more heat than light.

Signatures were collected in person, either door-to-door or at a specific locale like the market, and then presented to council at its special session on the Quay development, held on Tuesday, March 25.

The special session was marked by the way that the process of bringing facts to light can support genuine democracy, in permitting our representative body to deliberate and make informed decisions based on the presentation of the entire complexity.

The active participation of council members on both sides of the issue with acute listening and perceptive questioning was a welcome change from past experiences.

Powerco's representatives were candid as could be, although their presentation was handicapped by their having relied for some judgment on contractors not present for the meeting. They acknowledged that the present cable had been in place for 50 years with few or no problems from trees and their roots, themselves present now for 130 years.

An idea had been floated that the trees were near the end of their lifespan - this was refuted by the arborist viewpoint very ably put forth by Phil Thomsen and Colin Ogle. They provided the science behind the expectation that these hardy trees could live for decades more.

Cath Watson and Marie McKay did an exceptional job of presenting well-researched evidence to show not only the beauty of the trees and their social utility but the economic value which is estimated city-wide at $40 million.

Based upon these facts, council decided it had an alternative: to reconsider the Quay development plan in a way that would preserve the trees.

The decision shows council is capable of exercising deliberative good judgment when concerned citizens do the hard work of providing well-researched information. The information was provided by a citizens' group who sacrificed time, effort - and, yes, money - for the good of the whole community.

These people who acted so generously may well be relied upon to form another group - that is, a group devoted to furthering the prosperity of the city by getting together to encourage younger families and businesses to come here.

We have a beautiful city, ennobled by a great river, situated with a remarkable coast. Moreover, we have a talented and highly motivated citizenry, which came together to promote the common good. That strength needs to be harnessed as energy to grow our city.