Whanganui is to establish a citizen's assembly to consider the future of its outdoor swimming pools. Photo: 123rf.com
In a move harking back to ancient Greece, Whanganui is to establish a citizen's assembly to consider the future of its outdoor swimming pools.
Council chief executive David Langford said the initiative aimed to empower the community by involving residents more directly in council decision-making.
In this case, 40 randomly selected residents representative of Whanganui's demographics would meet for a series of discussion facilitated by an independent expert.
They would be paid a one-off payment of $500 for their time.
The move followed a proposal to close the Whanganui East Pool during annual plan process. After a public outcry the move was canned.
The key to the success of the assembly would be bringing together a diverse range of people and giving them the time to delve into the complexities of the issue, Langford said.
"Around the world, citizens' assemblies have been shown to be a successful means of making decisions on topics that matter to communities."
Council chief executive David Langford. Photo: Supplied / Whanganui District Council
Langford said the group would hear specialist advice and consider options put forward in a study on outdoor swimming in Whanganui.
"As most people will know, during last year's annual plan process we proposed to close Whanganui East Pool because of upcoming capital and operating costs.
"Community feedback strongly signalled that Whanganui East Pool and outdoor swimming in general is really valued so, in response, council decided to keep the Whanganui East Pool open for another season and commission a study on the future of our outdoor swimming facilities.
"That study, which is nearly complete, has assessed the availability and demand for outdoor swimming in our district and will identify a range of options."
After considering all the information, the citizens' assembly would develop a recommendation to present to council's annual plan discussions this year.
All Whanganui residents were welcome to register to participate in the citizens' assembly.
Mayor Andrew Tripe was excited about this new, more inclusive approach.
"Engaging with a wide-cross section of the community in this way will mean residents can take a more active role in shaping our district's future. If you'd like to be involved, keep an eye on the Whanganui District Council Facebook page to register your interest."
During last year's annual plan, $2 million of capital funding was allocated to outdoor swimming in Whanganui.
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