Big-ticket items not only issues that matter

SOME people can be dismissive of local authorities and their annual planning processes, regarding it as a waste of time and of no value.

But that is a far too simplistic approach. Annual and long-term plans are important because they lay down a road map, giving some semblance of order to an organisation which is involved in spending large sums of money - a good proportion of which is provided by the ratepayers.

So if we were ever to look for a reason to be involved in this part of our democratic process, then submitting to a council plan is an opportunity that should not be ignored.

The Wanganui District Council has just been through its submissions process, sitting over two days and hearing from 66 of those who made a total of 257 submissions to its 2015-25 10-year plan.

The people were expressing their views - and offering solutions - on a raft topics, including the major items such as wastewater treatment, earthquake-strengthening buildings, and the sale of pensioner housing and forestry.

Other submitters had a more parochial focus, such as those arguing to see the Wakefield St overbridge retained, opinions on the Mountains to the Sea cycleway and innovative plans for rejuvenating the city's seaside suburb.

It was refreshing that a good number of the submissions came from people who had never been involved in the process before. So we have to tip our hat to them.

And it was probably one of this number whose submission best summed up the process. It was a simple plea for councillors to walk some of the city's footpaths, and see for themselves the safety risk the uneven paths posed.

It was salutary reminder to councillors that their realm is not just the big-ticket items. For many in our community, an uneven footpath has a much greater priority.