A triumph for democracy

OPINION: I cannot believe the nationwide controversy that has erupted over our meetings with the so-called "boy racers" of Invercargill, writes Tim Shadbolt this week.

Personally, I feel that engaging in dialogue with all sectors of our community is a triumph of democracy in our city.

Every urban region in the Western world faces issues with fast cars and young drivers, but in how many cities do you get the local member of parliament; the head of the police; the mayor; the deputy mayor and 30-40 young drivers and their parents sitting in a rural hall trying to resolve their problems? Probably nowhere. That's why our unique response is causing such an uproar. In the early 90s we had a huge problem with skateboarders around the inner city. Old ladies were being knocked over and visitors to the city felt intimidated. Civic leaders sat down with the skateboarders and asked them how this problem could be resolved. The answer was the construction of an outdoor skatepark on the greenbelt opposite Splash Palace.

Recently, the YMCA has followed this project up by constructing an indoor skateboard park. Skateboarding is now a professional, international sport and as with its first cousin, the snowboard, I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up being an Olympic sport one day. Regular dialogue may not solve all the problems of the Industrial Revolution but at least it's a start. The other big debating point around the council table this month has been whether we need two wheelie bins or three to manage our city's solid waste.

Our city engineers strongly favour a three-bin system but according to my poll there is little public support for this proposal. Councillors are also divided on the issue. Southlanders produce 70,000 tonnes of rubbish from their homes every year and working out how to deal with it has always been a challenge for local government.

I well remember our council meeting of August 2001 when 60 protesters from Hedgehope invaded our council chamber and dumped their rubbish over our tables.

A local farmer, Gavin Evans, stood on a chair and berated the councillors for their lack of vision and Cr Piercy thundered back "it's you farmers that are polluting this bloody country"! As you can imagine, it was absolute pandemonium.

Our city engineers believed Hedgehope was the best site because it was the epicentre of Southland's waste streams. The farmers, however, believed the leachate would pollute local rivers. Finally, it was resolved to move to Kings Bend.

The limestone quarries of Browns have proved to be the perfect solution because they were geologically stable, more sustainable and there wasn't a single objector to the new site.

This was probably the only time this had happened in the history of local government in New Zealand, and generally speaking I like engineers because they provide practical solutions to complex technical problems.

However, they are not trained as diplomats and unlike politicians they don't have to weigh up the subtle nuances of human passions and emotions. That's why you won't find many engineers in Parliament or at poetry readings.

They genuinely believe there is only one possible answer to green waste and that's a third wheelie bin.

My solution of home composting, worm farms and small contractors such as Joe's Bins is dismissed as romanticism or political opportunism. However, as with Hedgehope I believe our engineers have got it wrong.

Next Friday I'll be entertaining visitors attending the Americarna rally, with Gary McCormick at Centre Stage. We both have day jobs but manage to get out one weekend a month for comedy shows. If you're one of the few New Zealanders who hasn't heard our slapstick Kiwi comedy routine you should check us out. Laughter is the sunshine of the soul and it's great for your health.

» Tim Shadbolt is the mayor of Invercargill.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Newest First

Oldest First