Now given the good words written about Iona and Celia it is to be hoped their views on the ghastly monstrosity planned for the home of all cricket in New Zealand – the Basin Reserve start getting some traction.  Many of Iona and Celia’s pals on the WCC seem intent on destroying the character of this Wellington icon by building a huge concrete flyover across the northern side of the Basin Reserve. The good folk at the Save the Basin campaign have got hold of what the Council’s own consultants had to say about this and it ain’t pretty:

The elevated structure for the grade separation of the Basin Reserve will be visually prominent and will affect the perception, symbolic character and context of the Basin Reserve and will impact on the overall character of the wider surroundings. The grade separation may also adversely affect the experience of those using the Basin Reserve.

One of the saddest aspects of this philistinery is that the man known as ‘mystery’ Morrison – a cricketing hero of the late 70s with his droopy mo and oddly unplayable slow bowling appears to be unconcerned by the flyover.   It’s time for readers of my great blog to get involved in stopping this tomfoolery and bowling a few Jeff Thompson style verbal and written bouncers at those advocating for the flyover. 

Of course, the GWRC transport plans (PDF) are well worth protesting about: more roads, no light rail? Despite the hundreds (and the great majority) of submissions asking for the opposite?

As Wellington City Councillor and Greens’ spokesperson Iona Pannett points out…

The Plan ignores Wellingtonians’ huge support for more public transport, their opposition to new tunnels and Wellington City’s commitment to carbon neutrality … Over 4,500 people made submissions on the study the Plan is based on, with 3,750 people supporting light rail, more buses and walking and cycling options whilst opposing the two tunnels and flyover. In contrast only 480 people submitted that the tunnels should be built. So, by a ratio of nearly 8 to 1 there was huge support for public transport and opposition to roads…

Quite.

But, what really caught the eye was the many protesters’ placards. Not so much the front of them, but the back. It was heartening to see the Greens and their allies recycling (presumably) discarded Real Estate signage upon which to display their protest slogans. Nice.

I suspect that recycling was as much to do with economy as it was environmentalism, but we’ll take the praise thanks.