Reader Opinion: City progress inevitable

As a resident of Hamilton for over 50 years I wish to make several points that are often forgotten. On my arrival in Hamilton, the railway line still crossed Victoria St. Peat fires often created dense fogs in our landlocked basin and extensive peat swamps as well as the Waikato River.

The population was about 40,000. Founders Theatre was nearly completed; Cobham Drive and bridge were unfinished as was Porritt Stadium; secondary schools Hillcrest and Melville did not exist.

Now Hamilton has developed to be the fourth most populous and fastest growing city outside Auckland. The other major cities of New Zealand have had much longer histories of development, associated with ports, large industries which have created wealth, and philanthropic contributors to create social infrastructure such as parks, theatres, art galleries, museums. gold rushes, and kauri felling also assisted.

Hamilton has to build these facilities with much higher costs in recent times.

The city has come of age in the past half century and there will be further developments in the future, I am sure.

I think past and present city councils have done an incredible job to change the Hamilton of the past into a modern city. With help from central government, philanthropists such as Brian Perry, Gallagher Industries and visionary citizens, we are living in a vastly improved city.

We have the Waikato Hospital the largest base hospital in New Zealand serving the central North Island. The University of Waikato and Wintec have begun and grown exponentially - as have the schools primary , secondary and private.

The city has contributed Te Rapa Pools, rugby and cricket stadia, and Claudelands Convention Centre. Councils have been instrumental in establishing two major modern hotels in the CBD.

In terms of infrastructure we have water and sewerage plants that serve the population, as well as additional bridges over the Waikato River (Cobham, Claudelands, and Pukete. The five bridges are close to capacity. We may need more!)

Hamilton Gardens is one of the most visited venues in New Zealand and overseas visitors are amazed to walk through such a magnificent park so close to the centre of the city. There are parks and playing fields throughout the city. We have walkways throughout the suburbs and along the Waikato and Lake Rotoroa as well as road island gardens and trees in nearly every street. If you look at a view of Hamilton from any high view-point it is the greenness of the city that is apparent.

We have libraries and a museum/art gallery in Victoria St and Hamilton Zoo and its nearby observatory.

Please get some perspective and recognise the job city council employees and councillors have done and are doing to make Hamilton City a great place to live. Let us praise the visionary leadership rather than begrudge the rate contributions.

Look around your area and list the part the city plays in your life and your standard of living.

Hamilton is a great place to live and its future is exciting. Who knows what the next 50 years will bring? But I suspect that each challenge will produce its critics. An increasing population will require progress and inevitable spending. Future city councils will need to build on the vision of the councils which have gone before.

We must all share the burden of decisions to improve our city. I hope this takes place with debate, decorum and dignity.

Chris Deverson describes himself as 'realistic Hamilton resident for 50 years'.