My Account
Landfill traffic
We note the huge press, police and NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) concern about the extra 12 trucks an hour to and from Northport on State Highway 1, as ships were unloaded and containers transported to Auckland. Police and Worksafe were out in force monitoring. Motorists were warned to take extra care. Clearly a big problem. Meanwhile, Waste Management’s Section 92 response, as they seek approval for their Dome Valley Regional Landfill, states that “in the 2028 peak hour, 15 trucks will arrive to off load waste material and 15 trucks will leave the site generally within the same hour period”. One wonders why NZTA and the other agencies are so extremely concerned about the recent short-term container traffic, yet have not submitted accordingly regarding the proposed landfill’s greater (and permanent) traffic impact of 520+ trucks a day and 750+ vehicles daily in total. We see the authorities’ recent concerns and their public warnings as a strong validation of the Mahurangi East Residents and Ratepayers Association’s recent landfill hearing submission. Our analysis states what the traffic impacts will be from the landfill, not to mention the daily 38 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The current fuss proves our case that the proposed landfill traffic is simply unacceptable and that a waste-by-rail option is absolutely crucial should a consent finally be granted.
Stuart Windross, Mahurangi East Residents and Ratepayers Association
Pathetic planning
Having sat too often over the last few weeks in the “Matakana queue”, I feel obliged to question the integrity of developer-driven planning by Auckland Council staff determined to stuff as many people as possible into every available corner without any planning for infrastructure. Thirty-three new houses with their only access directly to Matakana Road, opposite the school, and more to come. The impact on traffic in and east of Matakana is ignored. Developments continue at Point Wells, also adding more vehicles to the flow. Ongoing development on unsuitable sites continues throughout the area. Increasing numbers of logging trucks, quarry trucks and water trucks will add to the chaos. The Matakana link road will do nothing to improve this and, in fact, the increasing population will continue to plague Hill Street, as the new residents must also shop and do business in Warkworth. It will also make it easier for more traffic to add to the Matakana confusion. The community even had to provide their own car park. Whatever happened to the Matakana “Slow town” movement’? What is the rationale for allowing Matakana to grow? In spite of promises and plans to the contrary, more poo from Matakana will pour into the Whangateau Harbour catchment until the Jones Road plant becomes a potential environmental hazard like all the other Auckland sewerage systems. Look forward to closed beaches. Meanwhile, absolutely no attempts are being made to deal with the ongoing problem of old septic systems leaking into the Whangateau Harbour. What more can the future bring?
Elizabeth Foster, Whangateau
Shelter obstacle
I live in Hauiti Drive. About a year ago, when buses were introduced to Warkworth, a bus shelter was placed on the corner of Walton Avenue and Whitaker Road. At that time, this shelter had clear glass ends, which enabled anyone attempting to leave Walton Ave to see any vehicle approaching from Warkworth along Whitaker Road. Recently, signage was placed on the end facing Walton Avenue. This means that to be able to see any cars approaching from Warkworth, you have to pull forward into Whitaker Road to see past the bus shelter. I spoke to personnel doing the installation and they told me to pull further forward. To see any vehicle in front of the petrol station, which you need to see before proceeding into Whitaker Road, the front of my car needs to be over the white ‘give way’ line. This puts me at great risk of having a serious accident. As vehicles often exceed the 50km limit along Whitaker Road there is a very great chance of an accident in the near future. Is it possible to have the bus shelter moved towards Warkworth and completely eliminate this problem?
Ray Jensen, Warkworth
Auckland Transport responded: An engineer, who checked out this intersection, reports that the sight lines from Walton Road are acceptable. “We have checked the sight lines against the standard and they are not interrupted by the bus shelter.”
Animal abuse
While I slavishly applaud the “black sheep lives matter too” movement, I must take issue with the widely used practice of describing one as wearing a “sheepish” expression, a term I believe to be both discriminatory and belittling to our team of twenty-seven million compliant sheep. Would a switch to, let’s say, a “horseish” expression not prove a kinder, more politically correct option?
I fully accept, however, that in this matter I may be guilty of some woolly thinking. A recent account of a man, purportedly “barking” mad, and later, of “going ape”, is just another example of our thoughtless monkeying around with the cultural sensitivities of our animal friends. And, shamefacedly, this widespread stealing of animal names for our own use doesn’t stop there.
It appears that most women, regardless of former achievements, are doomed, in their dotage to turn into “old ducks”, while in my own case, the term “doddery old goat” has, sadly, become increasingly familiar. And finally, is it not a travesty that the statue of a border collie, one complicit in the rustling of sheep, and a blot on our colonial past, be permitted to remain standing on the shores of Lake Tekapo? That it has not been routinely torn down only confirms my contention that standards in this country have truly gone to the dogs.
Bob Sharp, Matakana
Philistines
Year after year I have entreated Kaipara District Council (KDC) to respect the trees and fauna in our area.
They have outdone themselves this time and turned the beautiful pohutukawa, which were in full bloom, into a sad tangled mess.
KDC does nothing about the state of Cames Road and its dreadful condition, but attacks trees which are doing no harm and are not overhanging the road.
They are philistines who insult us by spending our rates on desecrating our environment.
That is all we get – no road maintenance, nothing. Just destruction!
Melanie Scott, Mangawhai
Plunket says thanks
Wellsford Plunket would publicly like to thank the local community for their support in our Presents Under the Tree campaign this 2020 Christmas for children aged three months to five years of age. We had an overwhelming response to our request for presents for our families going through a rough patch. We thank each and every one of you for making the difference of a lifetime to our families. We truly appreciate each and every gift given from the bottom of our hearts. In 2021, we will be undertaking this present drive again with the added support of Wellsford Plus. Once again, thank you.
Tania Hamilton, Wellsford Plunket
Perils of gas
The case of the gas explosion in Christchurch, which destroyed several homes and recently came through the courts, highlights an issue we ignore at our peril. Residential piped gas is volatile, toxic and a powerful greenhouse contributor, to the extent that some US cities are now banning new gas connections. Gas appliances consume oxygen and emit carbon dioxide and water vapour. If ventilation is poor, oxygen levels begin to drop and the flames consume carbon dioxide, generating dangerous carbon monoxide. This can increase quickly to the point where the air becomes poisonous, and continued exposure can affect our health and wellbeing and be potentially lethal. Additionally, natural gas is a fossil fuel and although combustion may be cleaner than coal and oil, methane – a primary component of natural gas – leaks from drilling sites and pipelines and is many times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. While the gas industry may reject and confuse these claims, the facts remain. We should follow the trend and look to ban residential piped gas and rely on our abundant renewable electricity resources.
Larry Phillips, Snells Beach
