Martin Haese delivered the council's first homage to Light last night. Photo: Tony Lewis / InDaily

Lord Mayor Martin Haese, who told InDaily late last year that Light’s vision “is as true today as it was in 1836”, addressed the chamber with a form of words that will soon become very familiar:

“The council acknowledges the vision of Colonel William Light in determining the site for Adelaide and the design of the City, with its six squares and surrounding belt of continuous parklands, which is recognised on the national heritage list as one of the greatest examples of Australia’s planning heritage.”

The public reflection adds to the council’s current list of pre-meeting acknowledgements: a prayer, asking for the blessing of “Almighty God” to direct and prosper the council’s deliberations (notwithstanding the fact that at least one city councillor is an atheist) an acknowledgement of the traditional owners of the land, the Kaurna people, and a silent reflection in memory of Australia’s fallen military personnel.

The homage to Light comes after the Kaurna acknowledgement, but before the prayer.

The lead advocate for acknowledging Light’s vision every week, south ward councillor Alex Antic, was the only councillor absent from last night’s proceedings.

But he would undoubtedly be pleased.

Antic told a council meeting late last year that the Frome Street bikeway debacle might have been prevented had councillors been forced to reflect on Light’s vision at their meetings, adding: “Well, Lord Mayor, in terms of posterity, I give him (Colonel Light) the double thumbs up.”

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