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Commies everywhere
Very grateful for your top coverage of the Dome dump issue. I especially liked the photo of the commissioners (MM June 30). The poor solo female with four identikit old grey heads. They looked like members of the Politburo of Brezhnev’s day. And about Parnell as a suitable site for a dump (MM July 14). It’s already been tried. In Victorian times there was a dump in the gully to the north of Ayr Street. It ran down to Hobson Bay so was probably a regional dump with the rubbish coming by sea from all over. And I loved the hilarious letter from Richard Norburn seeing communists everywhere. Should have gone to Specsavers.
Best wishes, keep up the good work.
David Kisler, obviously another communist, Kaiwaka
Tip debate
It is a shame that R. Norburn of Warkworth (MM July 14) wants to introduce Government “communist views” into the debate on the tip. Notice I use the word “tip” to fairly represent what is going to happen in the Dome. There have been 958 submissions against the tip and 10 for. The tip will increase the heavy traffic on an already dreadful road at a high risk for locals. The tip will be owned by a foreign country (equals profit going overseas) and we will be taking rubbish from another country. Making a huge tip will ensure that the efforts to reduce our waste will slow down. Yet it still gets the go ahead! Now that is communism.
Paul Hicks, Warkworth
Common sense prevails
am glad common sense has prevailed and the barriers in Sandspit Road are not being erected (MM July 14). It is probably the safest part of the whole road, and I have never seen any cars lose control along that straight, after travelling it for over 20 years. The improvement to the road surface itself is welcome. Now we wait for improvements closer to Warkworth to be done.
Kaye Jackson, Snells Beach
Generosity appreciated
’d like to say thank you to the wonderful people of Warkworth and districts. Thank you so much for your generous donations of wool to make garments, beanies and blankets for the children. These clothes are distributed by Plunket, midwives and hospitals to the needy who they see in the course of their work. I am overwhelmed by your generosity.
Sandra Haycock, Warkworth
Mahurangi Matters: We are still accepting wool on Sandra’s behalf at our office at 17 Neville Street, Warkworth.
Orangutan threat?
I’m curious to know the reasoning behind the use of tropical hardwood (rainforest) decking on our town wharf, supposedly “ethically sourced”. Was this to reduce chemical leaching into the Mahurangi River, as would have been the case with treated pine? In which case what about the H6 tanalised piles? It is questionable whether hardwood decking is as durable as tanalised pine. Not to mention it is twice the price. Hope this project hasn’t displaced any orangutans or made space for more palm kernel plantations. Isn’t our esteemed council supposed to be environmentally sensitive?
Tim and Beth Chapman, Warkworth
Auckland Council head of Area Operations Paul Amaral says the hardwood used is tonka, which is an environmentally-certified product originating from Central South America. “A hardwood replacement for the failing pine was sought by the original community drivers of the wharf’s creation. It is recognised as having superior characteristics of strength and durability, along with attractive colour and weathering properties. While more expensive than pine, the visual aesthetics provide a further benefit to the town’s waterfront. Community business involvement in this project helped reduce the cost.”
Magnificent effort
A big thank you to the members of the public who turned up in person at the Auckland Town Hall on June 24 to demonstrate their support for securing Auckland Council’s funding for fixing Hill Street (MM June 30). My gratitude also extends to the dozens of emails and phone calls of additional support and encouragement I received. Our community rallied magnificently and was successful in winning the $4.7 million required from Council.
Acknowledgment should also be extended to members of the general public, the local and national politicians, the lobbyist groups, business groups, Mahurangi Matters – for their years of news coverage – and the 20 community and ratepayer groups who signed Dave Stott and Roger Williams’ letter circulated to the Mayor and all Councillors in advance of the positive funding decision being made. So thank you also to the Mayor and my Councillor colleagues who have worked constructively with me and voted the final approval through. We have achieved a real win. Auckland Council’s commitment of ratepayers’ money has triggered the next step, which is for central Government/NZTA to commit taxpayers’ money of $14.1m. Although NZTA is extremely supportive and full funding looks certain, we will remain vigilant as a community, because as we have seen, the Minister of Transport can change government’s spending priorities across Auckland at a whim. NZTA will be deciding the funding at its next monthly board meeting and our local Members of Parliament and I intend to meet with the Minister in advance to safeguard the funding.
Greg Sayers, Councillor for Rodney
