From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 10 April

The conceit is such it seems they are incapable of believing they could, possibly, be wrong.  Such implacability invariably leads to errors in judgement.

FACING a groundswell of serious concern from a group of moderate residents, the City of Ballarat councillors are refusing to hear the voice of the people. Dr Robert Thurman has listed, chapter and verse, those areas where acceptable scientific research has not been conducted, and which, in some instances, is patently inconclusive. Regrettably, not even the combined intellectual and scientific capacities of Drs Michael Whitehead and Robert Thurman were enough to precipitate a halt for contemplation.

Ballarat is not a fiefdom. Five of the nine city councillors (incredulously, one councillor absented) have determined that 225 5.5-metre aluminium lampposts, set in concrete blocks the size of a small refrigerator, will be placed around the perimeter of Lake Wendouree. A decision which is profoundly stupid.

Alarmed residents are not opposed to the lighting of the Steve Moneghetti running truck. Quite the contrary; however, and justifiably, they are concerned the choice of lighting is both wrong and regrettable. In-ground, cross path lighting is a better choice and will not, despite erroneous communications by municipal officers, increase the cost of installation. There is proof to this notion.

The officers and councillors have argued spuriously the current choice was always made known to those residents who responded to the original proposal. In reality, the generic question made no mention of lampposts, and the current masterplan, prepared and released some time following the public response, was the first mention. To insinuate otherwise is a gross misnomer and deserves immediate clarification.

It is untrue to say there was no alternative lighting proposal included in the recent tendering process.

The recent spate of scaremongering by some councillors and delegated officers is a public disgrace and an abuse of office. Those involved should be admonished, seriously. To suggest the halting of the proposed lighting installation will impact on other works currently underway, including the tramways project, is untrue; even Machiavellian. To wittingly cause public anxiety borders on serious contempt for residents and deserves a public explanation.

The devil is in the detail, and the official number opposed to the plan now exceeds the original number of those respondents in agreement. The final minutia of the project has sent a shockwave through the community and should be reason for the council to review the plan, again.

None of us has a monopoly on good ideas and incumbency does not, by osmosis, imbue the wisdom of Solomon. For councillors to fly in the face of public opinion in, seemingly, a determination to sate personal ego, is an abrogation of responsibility. The election to office brings grave obligation. It is not a sinecure to be treated wantonly; nor should it be used as an aspirational steppingstone. The spectacle of one councillor mocking at comments and seemingly berating those in the gallery, might be interpreted as an insolent act of calculated hubris.

The installation of the lampposts will, eventually, result in an environmental calamity; and while the body of water is not one of the world’s great lakes, it is worthy of protection, and all that it entails.

This should not be a churlish battle of wills. It demands consensus, however protracted. The decision is serious. Public disquiet is palpable. Residents of Ballarat must have the final say, not five councillors, however aggrieved they may feel at being forced to respond to public opinion.

The lampposts must not be installed!

Roland can be heard with Brett Macdonald Mondays at 10.45am on 3BA and contact via [email protected].