My Account
Too many choppers
Mark Putnam, Stanmore Bay
Can anyone tell me who I should be aiming questions at regarding the increase in helicopters flying over Stanmore Bay at all time of day or night? I am not talking about rescue or police units, but private helicopters that think its fine to fly over residential areas at any time, shaking the house with the down draught and generally not giving a hoot for those they disturb. We used to get the occasional helicopter but over the last 12-15 months we have had a marked increase. If you can afford to use a helicopter to get to your luxury pad in Leigh or some other monied enclave then you can afford the fuel to fly out at sea and leave the rest of us in peace.
A Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson responds: We have forwarded this complaint to Information Safety Services at CAA, however, we advise that in the first instance the resident should direct their compliant to the local helicopter companies. It is not against the law for helicopters to fly over residential areas as long as they are operating in accordance with the Civil Aviation Rules. There is also no noise violation that can be upheld when aircraft or helicopters are flying.
Cafés swallow tables
Andrea Small, Orewa
I was wondering whether anyone else has noticed that several of the public seats on Orewa Boulevard have been swallowed up by café tables and chairs? I can still sit on them when I need a bit of a rest but it’s a bit strange sitting among the diners. In one café, someone was using the public seat because it was right beside her table while she had lunch.
Gayle Hill of Destination Orewa responds: As Orewa and the Orewa population have grown in the last few years, we often encounter issues. The public seats were originally placed in areas that were appropriate at the time and now some of them are in areas being partly used by businesses in the summer period. While it is difficult to move the seats, we at Destination Orewa have initiated specific actions. We have spoken to the local businesses and asked them to, where possible, keep a reasonable distance between the seats and their tables. Council people have been out and visited some the restaurants in question. We will suggest to council that they look at relocating some of the seats to avoid conflict with the local businesses. In the meantime, maybe we share the public areas, just like we share the road with cars, pedestrians and cyclists.
Speed reductions cost
Michael James, Orewa
I along with many others have received a pamphlet from Auckland Transport outlining proposed speed reductions. It states that 10 percent of the 700km of roads will have speed reductions and, of that, 90 percent is for rural roads, leaving only 7km for the city centre (which I take as Queen Street and surrounds), town centres and residential roads. Quite a large proportion of these kilometres appear to be in Orewa, which makes me think this area is being targeted. There are so many elderly people driving at less than 40kph anyway that we all have to slow down. Apparently 64 people died in 2017 because of being hit by a vehicle – how many in Orewa? Of these whose fault was it, the pedestrian’s inattention, or the driver? Part of the cost is from the Regional Fuel Tax, the rest from what? Oh no not from rate increases, again – for no benefit to anyone.
Editor’s note: Funding for the speed reductions comes from Government, Auckland Council and the Regional Fuel Tax – ie, taxpayers and ratepayers (HM September 5, 2018). Figures for the Hibiscus & Bays area show that road safety has worsened, with deaths and serious injuries up 29 percent (2013-17). Locally, 48 percent of those people were “vulnerable road users”, such as cyclists, motorbike riders and pedestrians.
Park and ride delays
Our front page story, March 13 edition, about further delays in completing the Silverdale park and ride struck a chord with many readers. AT has said it is so far unable to award a contract for the work that is within its budget. Park and ride users are voicing their frustration via social media and by calling our paper, with many comments focused on the need for better public transport and the lack of investment in this area, despite the contribution local drivers are making to the petrol tax. Some were of the opinion that more people are using the Silverdale facility now that there is a charge for parking in the streets near the Albany park and ride. To join the conversation, or view the story, visit the Hibiscus Matters Facebook page.
