We had spent the time from our appointment in March to our next meeting with the Steering Committee in June beginning the surveys necessary to prepare the plan. We had yet to determine if and how the planning process should be adapted to take account of a number of developments in the pipeline. The June meeting opened with the Chairman, Commander Anderson, forcefully reminding us once more that it was the Steering Committee that had been established to produce a plan for the area. Our role, as he saw it, was to serve as technical advisers. I was relieved that Jimmy had now decided to present the report prepared by Stan and myself, and that we were only to field questions when necessary. This was obviously more acceptable to the Chairman and became the modus operandi for all our meetings. Jimmy knew that a number of road proposals were of immediate concern and mentioned the need to consider a second river crossing when establishing the future road pattern. He went on to assure the committee that road improvements and other developments in the pipeline, which would not prejudice the overall planning of the area, would not be unnecessarily delayed.

Councillor James Doherty succinctly explained that he saw the task of the committee as operating at two levels. First, there was the task of dealing with pressing situations requiring first aid and second, the preparation of a plan to accommodate future growth.