Letter: New council old projects

The Tolaga Bay Wharf, pictured in 2023, was closed at the end of January that year after Cyclone Hale, before Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo / Gisborne Herald

Well done to the number of people putting their names forward to stand for council, thank you. It behoves the community to use our democratic right to vote and send in the papers by the deadline.

Once elected, councillors will need to get up to speed smartly and read the material provided to them.

I am highlighting two outstanding projects sorely in need of attention.

The Tolaga Bay wharf, an icon in this region, is used in all sorts of tourism promotion for the region, but is sorely neglected in the GDC scheme of things. Currently partially barricaded and essentially closed to the public.

This is very sad. The wharf provides no end of pleasure to the community of Uawa as a fishing and recreation space. It is also a fascinating piece of local history for visitors.

I find it very poor that Gisborne District Council fail to answer even polite emails questioning the timeframe for decisions on the future of the wharf?

Clearly, it needs an assessment and then a plan for the restoration. No one can get on with fundraising till the first steps are taken, and as a piece of GDC infrastructure council needs to give it some attention rather than just ignoring queries.

The second is the absolute waste of money the ‘Streets for People’ Grey St redevelopment is. Blatantly looking us all in the face, and none more so than the businesses in Grey St. Seldom a soul is seen using the marked-up lanes that intrude into the former roadway.

Council did allow an ‘outside entity’ to do this redevelopment with initially New Zealand Transport Authority funding, perhaps a mistake?

Many months ago, a survey was done, and council are sitting on the outcome?

Most users would like to see the street returned to its former state, unless some brilliant reason is provided to do otherwise?

Will there be many more projects just like this?

Please, new council, show some respect for the public of Tairāwhiti and let us know what is to happen next. The wheels of local government grind so slowly.

Pat Seymour

Whāngārā, Gisborne