A Christchurch City Council staff manager is defending public criticism over a report that ignores the majority of submissions on the Sumner mast lights, insisting the final say will rest with elected members.
In May, the Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board asked the public to share their views on how the lights should be managed.
The consultation drew 938 individual submissions and three from businesses. When asked about light frequency, 788 submissions, or 84 percent, supported the current daily settings (except during Matariki week), while only 155 opposed.
On operating hours, 683 submissions, or 72 percent, supported the existing daily times of dusk until 11pm. Another 142 wanted shorter hours and 118 asked for an extension.
Despite those results, a council report ruled out the “do nothing” option, even though it directly reflected what most people wanted.
Instead, they tabled three alternatives, which will be presented to the community board on Thursday.
Council Head of Parks Rupert Bool said, “The report on Cave Rock lighting being considered by the Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board includes a staff recommendation which balances technical information and constraints with the community feedback we heard during consultation.
“The recommendation aims to address the concerns raised by a number of submitters by including slight changes to hours of operation in winter and a minor change to the configuration of the lights.
“While a large part of the community indicated they are happy with the lights, there were a considerable number of people who requested a modification to their configuration and to limit the hours of operation and frequency.
“Staff ruled out ‘do nothing’ as their recommendation to address these concerns however, if the Board wants to pursue this option, they are able to do so. Other options considered included a more significant variation to the configuration of the lights to fully light the maritime mast and reducing the frequency the lights are lit.
“The report allows the Board, as decision makers, to weigh up all information and make an informed decision they feel best meets the needs of the community they represent.”
Bool didn’t directly answering questions from Chris Lynch Media about how the staff recommendation aligned with the principles of democracy.
Heathcote Councillor and Christchurch mayoral candidate Sara Templeton said “a few years ago now when Heathcote was part of the old Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board, a number of residents were concerned about the brightness and design of the reinstated lights and the Sumner Community Residents’ Association came to the board and suggested that Council should have consulted with the community before the lights were installed and the board passed a resolution for this to happen.
Councillor Aaron Keown, who has been re-elected unopposed, said “it is disappointing the council have not presented an option that speaks for the majority of submitters. Don’t worry, I’m more than happy to keep speaking up for the majority. These lights are fantastic.”
