Wellington’s Golden Mile project has survived yet another concerted cancellation attempt. After eight years of arguing, can we put this debate behind us and just build the damn thing?

“We’ve lost the social licence,” councillor Tony Randle said as he introduced an amendment to slash Wellington’s Golden Mile upgrade to a much smaller project. “Proceeding without public confidence is the wrong thing for the city.” He spoke in the passive voice, as if public opinion was an uncontrollable natural force rather than something he had deliberately and tirelessly campaigned to shift.

Since it was first proposed in 2016 as part of the Let’s Get Wellington Moving transport programme, the Golden Mile upgrade – which includes widened footpaths, bus lanes, and removing most on-street carparks – has been controversial. That’s no surprise – pedestrianisation projects are happening in many cities worldwide, and they’re never easy. Change is hard. On this current council, the strongest opponents are Randle, Diane Calvert, Ray Chung and Nicola Young. Over eight years and through three local elections, they’ve moved amendments, notices of no confidence, voted against funding, sent texts to government ministers, and demanded external reviews, There have been petitions, protests, dodgy polls and impassioned speeches. Every time a pipe breaks or a project goes over budget, Diane Calvert jumps to her feet to suggest the same solution: cancelling or delaying the Golden Mile upgrade.

Last week’s showdown was part of a meeting to rewrite the long-term plan. After mayor Tory Whanau’s proposal to sell the council’s airport shares fell through, the council needed to cut about $400 million over 10 years. Of course, the Golden Mile was once again on the tip of everyone’s tongues. Whanau declared it a bottom line that she would not touch.

Randle proposed slimming the project back to include only Courtenay Place. The problem is that the council has already secured a commitment from NZTA to fund 51% of the work. A significant change of plans like this would require new approval from the agency and would likely need sign-off from transport minister Simeon Brown. It’s possible the council could negotiate a deal, but that’s easier said than done. Brown campaigned to cancel the Golden Mile project and has already insulted the mayor by appointing a Crown observer. It’s not exactly a high-trust relationship.

Aside from the four hardline conservatives, Randle also picked up support from Tim Brown, Iona Pannett and Nureddin Abdurahaman, but it wasn’t enough for a majority. The Golden Mile upgrade survived for the umpteenth time.

In local government, you typically only hear from people against projects. They’re the ones motivated enough to get off their arse and make a public submission or sign a petition. Last Tuesday’s meeting was different. Everyone presenting knew the council had to make cuts and was there to plead the case for their pet projects. Most submissions were about the Golden Mile, and every speaker was in favour.

VUWSA president Marcail Parkinson argued that the Golden Mile upgrade would mean more safe public hangout spots for students. Jamin Fountain, a Year 10 student at Wellington High School, described it as a “once-in-a-generation chance to transform the city into a safe, creative community space”. Ethan Reille begged the council to stay the course: “We only have one shot to get the Golden Mile right. Delaying or cutting will affect generations to come.” Paddy Geddes just played a three-minute video clip of a bustling pedestrianised street in Zurich. “Do you have any other comments to make?” chair Rebecca Matthews asked. “Just that I want some of that,” he responded, pointing to the screen.

One submitter referenced George Street, a similar streetscaping project in Dunedin. It inspired a backlash that cost mayor Aaron Hawkins re-election, but is widely popular now that it’s finished. It would have been easy for Whanau to compromise on the Golden Mile by scaling back the project or agreeing to another few months of consultations and delays. To her credit, she held fast and stood by her bottom-line commitment. The rewritten long-term plan cuts about $400 million, but the Golden Mile budget is untouched.

I’ve made my thoughts on the Golden Mile clear: I believe it will be a transformational project that will provide a significant economic and cultural boost to Wellington at a time when the city desperately needs it. But you can’t fault the conservative councillors for fighting as hard as they can against it. They’re standing up for their constituents and their principles. If you believe a strong opposition is important for governance, they’ve delivered that in spades. The question is, when is enough enough? Will they fight it to the bitter end, standing in front of jackhammers and filing desperate legal cases? Or can the council put this debate behind them at last and focus on actually building the damn thing?