Letters to the editor: Leave the politics out of the Three Waters debate

Three waters relates to drinking, storm and wastewater. Photo / NZME

Re Three waters - don't muddy the three waters with politics. This is not tribal, it's survival.

Water supply is becoming increasingly difficult and is our most precious resource. Our water is under severe pressure. Think also hydro and irrigation. We don't have an unlimited supply.

We are putting huge pressure on our environment. The extraction of fresh water and the disposal of waste is damaging our rivers, lakes and harbours. Our environment is a treasure to be preserved.

Economically, the cost of supplying the three waters is huge. Fast- and slow-growing councils are struggling under the burden.

The cost of funding the infrastructure is significant, as is funding the depreciation and renewals. It severely limits a council's ability to function.

Consumers and ratepayers will have to fund the three waters no matter who supplies it.

Privatisation is not the answer. Under the status quo, councils will struggle to keep up.

Centralisation with the responsibility for funding is attractive but you lose control.

There are some big questions in there. What do you want to see preserved? You work it out but leave the politics out.

Terry Molloy
Tauranga

Sight of preventable diseases unforgettable

School teachers who refuse to be vaccinated would be best suited to another profession.

Apart from the risk they pose to the community, what sort of message are they sending to their students?

Have they never had a polio, tetanus, Tb, diphtheria or any other jab?

Would they advise their students not to take those precautions?

I was a nurse in the 1950s, and I saw children die of tetanus and crippled and die of polio, in Third World countries, people were still dying of smallpox.

Seeing these dreadful diseases firsthand is something one never forgets and is thankful we are so lucky to have a vaccine for Covid-19.

A M Gribben
Mount Maunganui

Thanks to our health workers

My recent experiences in both Tauranga and Waikato hospitals have all confirmed for me how fortunate we are in Aotearoa New Zealand to have such easy and free access to a fantastic health system.

The systems worked extremely well, the doctors and nurses were totally professional and thoroughly caring.

And the food was okay too. My deep gratitude and thanks to all the staff.

Bruce Fraser
Bethlehem

What happened to Raymond Dam?

After reading the article of November 2 about the

lack of dams in the Bay of Plenty

.

People seem to forget we have the Raymond Dam at the top of No 4 Rd, Te Puke.

When the Raymond Dam was built, (Eddie Raymond was Te Puke mayor) it was that Te Puke would never have water restrictions again.

Why is the dam not in use?

Brian Davies
Te Puke

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