Consultation process improves

July 16 2009, 12:09am

Mount Gambier City Council will unveil new concept plans for the main corner redevelopment on Tuesday.Interested people are encouraged to view the plans at one of four community forums at City Hall throughout the day.Presentations by the design collaborative team will be held at 8am, 10.30am, 2pm and 8pm.Mayor Steve Perryman says the team has absorbed a diverse range of views on the best solutions for the main corner and its integration with the adjoining Old Town Hall and the Cave Gardens.The team has been meeting behind closed doors since controversy erupted over the preliminary concept design, which featured a prominent blue tower.It can be argued the group needed some breathing space to become fully briefed on the issues involved and that's why secrecy was needed.However, if the group is to win public confidence it's important that future meetings after next Tuesday be held in the open.Transparency and accountability are necessary ingredients to win public acceptance.The community needs to have a sense of ownership in this significant public asset.Council has got back on track in terms of consultation after some early confusion; that's commendable.Leaks from the council chamber suggest the blue tower idea will be scrapped.That's interesting, because there were some vocal supporters of the original concept design, especially among young people who participate in web-based social media.While most will say a backflip in this case is common sense, it will be fascinating to see how the communications unfold.