Council rejects rainbow paint for roundabout

The Waitaki District Council has voted down a proposal to paint the Ouse St roundabout in rainbow colours to support the district’s LGBTTQIA+ community, but that is not the end of the road for the project.

The council vote was split at yesterday’s meeting, with Mayor Gary Kircher, Deputy Mayor Melanie Tavendale, and Crs Hana Halalele and Bill Kingan supporting the Waitaki Youth Council proposal, while Crs Kelli Williams, Jeremy Holding, Jim Hopkins, Colin Wollstein, Guy Percival and Jim Thomson voted it down.

The youth council had initially approached the council about installing a rainbow pedestrian crossing in Oamaru.

However, after concerns were raised about logistics pertaining to crossings, with the requirement to be controlled by traffic lights and have Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency approval, their proposal shifted to a rainbow roundabout apron to promote their message.

A location at Waitaki Boys’ High School was considered, but the youth council wanted their message to have a wider reach in the community, and the Ouse St roundabout, close to Waitaki Girls’ High School, was chosen.

The proposed cost for the project was $2803. It would be funded by the youth council.

Cr Percival believed it would be a distraction for drivers, while Crs Hopkins and Wollstein expressed anxieties about a lack of consultation with the community and potential backlash.

While supportive of the concept, Cr Williams held concerns about the location and aesthetics. Cr Thomson was "100% behind" the youth council and the LGBTTQIA+ community, but was concerned about logistics. He wanted the council to revisit the options "to show the support to these young people that they actually deserve".

Youth council chairman Ethan Reille said yesterday’s decision was "a bit disappointing", but it was good to have general support for the proposal. The youth council would take the feedback on board and continue to champion the cause.

"There is still hope, obviously, that it would spark some interest in different locations," he said.

Ethan (17), who was recently named as one of 100 Kiwibank Local Hero Medallists for the 2022 New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Award, was grateful for the support of councillors who backed the concept. He challenged those who were worried about community backlash to have the confidence to represent minority groups.

"I think the main thing that’s come from this decision, and that will come, is the question: why would we need a rainbow crossing? Or why would we need a rainbow roundabout?

Cr Tavendale, one of the council representatives on the youth council, said it was a "regroup moment".

"I also think it does give youth council a chance to go away and have a wee rethink ... just to work out what the best option is."

rebecca.ryan@odt.co.nz

 

Comments

Stone me, what has this community got about road furniture? Interesting that the crossing proposal was turned down due to it's needing approval. Did the DCC seek or receive approval for their rainbow crossing?

Why are youth being manipulated into getting behind this sort of propaganda? However, glad to see Waitaki DC have so much of spare ratepayers cash that they can throw it away at this trivia! They must be using the same “Playbook” as DCC