Gardens impact credibility

How can our new mayor and councillors regain the credibility of our ratepayers, after the Hamilton Garden’s Rhododendron Lawn debacle?

A part of the 2019 Plan, that is pivotal because it links Gates 1 and 2 access and egress to the Gardens and that solved many serious traffic flow problems. A plan that has cost our ratepayers tens of thousands of dollars.

The Council’s 2019 Development Planning committee conducted throughout April and May a robust consultation process.

The Council printed 500 coloured brochures of the plan, held many well attended information sessions during which the plan was illustrated, explained and questions were fielded by experts including the Garden’s Director Peter Sergel, senior council representatives and the President of the Friends of the Hamilton Gardens, who have over 800 members. In addition, an online survey was conducted and the plan was promoted on social media. This was a very professionally developed and costly exercise.

The public were invited to make submissions on the plan, and a closure date for all submissions was set at June 7.

Almost 200 people and groups made submissions and 66 per cent supported the new car parking plans.

Then, contra to council rules and protocols, a speedily formed protest group, including among its members, organisations with a financial interest in the utilisation of the Rhododendron Lawn, launched a carefully timed submission, and submitted it well past the deadline set by council, immediately before council was due to vote on the plan. The pressure group, lead by Jennie De Groot, aided and abetted by Councillor Bunting launched a protest against the Rhododendron Lawn plan.

Contra to council rules and protocols, council accepted the very late submission from the well organised pressure group who Councillor Mark Bunting appeared to be representing. He put to the vote the proposition that council delay their decision on accepting the plan and it was agreed upon by a vote from those present councillors by 8-4 in support.

Those who voted against putting off the decision were Crs Ryan Hamilton, Garry Mallett, Rob Pascoe and Leo Tooman.

Cr Paula Southgate had put in apologies for the meeting.

This leaves Mayor Paula Southgate together with her new council with a servery damaged credibility.

Who is going to have confidence in the future in a council who do not follow their own rules and protocols when it suits them?

Brian Main, Hamilton