Editorial: It's time for us to speak up

Whangarei District Council has adopted its Long Term Plan and with it the Hundertwasser project moves a step forward.

Some say that this should be accepted. I say the real fight now begins.

We now know the project is only supported by a vociferous minority. Stan Semenoff, the architect of the project, dismissed critics as whingers and whiners. Kahu Sutherland describes us as naysayers. To Warwick Syers, submitters were angry and rude.

Councillor Syers, Councillor Sharon Morgan and Mayor Morris Cutforth all believe the council knows best and voting patterns indicate other councillors share these views.

Cutforth says they must rely on their own judgment as they have so much more information than ordinary people. What have they been keeping from us? Come on, Morris. Don't be shy! Give us the information we supposedly lack and we'll see if we agree with you.

Anyone is entitled to support the Hundertwasser.

What I cannot defend is a council making such a major decision not knowing where public opinion lies, something WDC has stubbornly refused to investigate.

Submissions are fine at the start of a project but little use at such a late stage, when all the major decisions had been made. What was needed was a measure of public support, such as the referendum many of us advocated.

The submissions gave great heart to those opposing the project and Councillor Brian McLachlan's survey proves that an overwhelming majority is against. .

We can throw these recidivists out come the next election but if we do nothing by then the Hundertwasser may be unstoppable.

Tomorrow - another view - "Let Hundertwasser roll on".